Walz tours HESS and touts H.R. 6709

We've been writing a lot about energy policy and H.R. 6709 at BSP.  We just received a statement about Congressman Walz's visit to the Hybrid Energy System Study in Rochester. The press release connects the dots between projects on the ground in Southern Minnesota and the policies the bipartisan House Energy Working Group's legislation proposes.  The release from the congressional office:

Today, Congressman Tim Walz toured the Hybrid Energy System Study (HESS) in Rochester to discuss with researchers and local leaders how the bipartisan energy plan he is supporting could help speed up our nation's transition to energy independence and new, clean technologies.

"Projects like this, right here in Rochester, would benefit from The National Conservation, Environment and Energy Independence Act," said Walz, a member of the House Bipartisan Energy Working Group. "This bill reflects the results of a growing bi-partisan coalition of lawmakers who believe in putting aside partisan bickering and finding common-sense solutions that will speed up America's transition to an energy independent future."

"This project shows what we are able to do when we work together to address a problem. Rochester Public Utilities in partnership with the University recognized that we need clean, reliable energy that is safe and available for consumers. The federal government could be a great partner in achieving the objectives of this project with one trillion dollars of dedicated funding over the next ten years," concluded Walz.

"With funding we can expand on the positive results of HESS Phase II and bring our systems integration of alternative energy one step closer to actual implementation," said Jim Licari, Digital Technology Liaison with the University of Minnesota Rochester. He added, "The first step would be to install an advanced version of the HESS II system to prototype the technology in 3 or 4 homes, and ultimately moving to a microgrid application in a full subdivision with the goal to eliminate more than 50% reliance on fossil fuels."

It is estimated that there will be $2.6 trillion in royalties from the leases sold in the Outer Continental Shelf with more than $1 trillion of that dedicated to conservation and renewable energy technologies. Of that, $390 billion is set aside for Renewable Energy Reserve which hopes to encourage the use of cleaner domestic energy resources and alternative fuels, to promote the use of energy-efficient products, and to increase research, development, and deployment of clean renewable energy and efficiency technologies. Additionally, money from the sale of oil released from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve would fund $30 million for Geothermal Energy Development, $50 million for University based research projects, and another $5 million for Hydrogen Research and Development which could help fund projects like HESS.

HR 6709, the National Conservation, Environment, and Energy Independence Act which was introduced last week by Representatives Neil Abercrombie (D-HI) and John Peterson (R-PA), is cosponsored by 119 Members [in] the House.  The bill is the brainchild of a bipartisan working group of about 20 Members, including Walz.  Since its introduction, nearly a hundred members of both parties have joined Walz by lending their support to the bill including Minnesota Representatives Bachmann and Kline.

This bill also takes into account the short-, medium- and long-term energy challenges facing our country and takes visionary action to address each of them in a responsible manner - it expands drilling and increases domestic production of oil, helps consumers by releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and provides a reliable and significant source of new funding for renewable energy research and energy conservation that will allow us to speed up the development of next-generation renewable fuels

HESS is a partnership project between the University of Minnesota Rochester and Rochester Public Utilities.

Fact sheets on the HESS Project and HR 6709 are available by clicking here here [pdf file] .

Comments

[MinnesotaCentral]

Now we have a clear difference in philosophy … Davis is “Drill in Louisiana and Alaska, Drill Now” and Walz is “Jobs in Minnesota, Jobs Now”. A Win for Walz and Minnesota.

Ollie Ox says: Actually, Tim Walz doesn't oppose drilling in Louisiana (and that part of the GOM is open for drilling). He wants a comprehensive energy bill and he reached across the aisle to work on one.