Environment Texas, Wind Industry Praise Rep. Rodriguez for Renewable Energy Amendment

AUSTIN – Environment Texas and the American Wind Energy Association praised the introduction today of an amendment joint-authored by Congressman Ciro Rodriguez that would require utilities to generate 15% of their electricity from clean, renewable sources like wind and solar power by the year 2020. The measure is scheduled for a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives tomorrow, with Rep. Rodriguez’s new support widely seen as critical to delivering a block of votes crucial to the amendment’s passage.

“We hope that having Rep. Rodriguez championing renewable energy will put us over the top,” said Environment Texas Director Luke Metzger. “We are proud and excited that he is taking the lead in helping break our dependence on dirty and dangerous fossil fuels by harnessing our homegrown renewable resources and technological know-how to put America on a path to a new energy future.” 

Rep. Rodriguez is offering the amendment with Rep. Tom Udall (D-NM) and Rep. Todd Platts (R-PA). The vote on the renewable electricity standard is expected to be very close and having Rep. Rodriguez as a champion is expected to persuade others to join him in support.

“Setting a Renewable Electricity Standard for the United States is a bold step towards energy independence and a cleaner energy future — one that I am proud to advocate for.  A Renewable Electricity Standard will create thousands of new jobs and result in billions of dollars in investments in rural communities across the country,” said Congressman Ciro Rodriguez (TX-23). “Texas has always been a leader in energy production and with the vast renewable energy potential in our State we will be at the forefront of our nation’s renewable energy future.”

The Udall-Platts-Rodriguez amendment is expected to have significant economic and environmental benefits for Texas. Already, the renewable energy industry has created thousands of jobs across the state, from Bergen Southwest Steel producing wind turbine towers in El Paso, to the ports of Houston, Beaumont, and Corpus Christi processing shipments of the turbine engines, to steel fabrication in Coleman out in west Texas. Renewable energy is also saving consumers money. According to the Wind Coalition, by displacing use of high-cost natural gas, wind power saved $476 million in wholesale power costs in Texas last year. Finally, increased use of clean sources of electricity will reduce emissions of smog and global warming pollution.

“Thanks to Rep. Rodriguez we are closer to putting in place nationally the kind of policy that Texas pioneered, and which began Texas’ rise as a leader in wind power,” said Jaime Steve, Legislative Director for the American Wind Energy Association.  “The long-term predictability of this legislation will enable the industry to attract investment capital and achieve manufacturing economies of scale that will spur economic development, lower consumer prices, strengthen U.S. energy security, and help our environment.”

US Representatives Lloyd Doggett, Eddie Bernice Johnson and Sheila Jackson Lee are also on record supporting the policy.