WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on how to best invest in America’s energy infrastructure to stimulate the economy and create jobs, Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) urged increased investments in our nation’s outdated transmission system.  In the Pacific Northwest, the Bonneville Power Administration has historically ensured that the region has sufficient and reliable transmission capacity.  However, future growth and the need to adopt new types of renewable energy sources are overwhelming BPA’s current infrastructure and limit the creation of green jobs. 

 

Cantwell plans to work with members of the Northwest Congressional delegation to push for an additional $5 billion in Treasury borrowing authority to allow new renewable resources to come online in the next two years.  Such an investment could allow 4,700 megawatts of renewable resources to come online and create an estimated 50,000 green jobs, including high wage construction jobs.

 

“In order for the U.S. to remain a world economic leader, we urgently need to transform and revitalize our nation’s energy system to be cleaner, more diverse, and more distributed,” said Cantwell.  “Right now we have an opportunity to end our over-reliance on fossil fuels, to once again be at the forefront of technological advancement and leadership, and to stimulate our economy while creating new jobs.  Providing BPA with the access to the capital it needs to improve our Pacific Northwest grid and allow more wind power to come online will provide a great simulative boost to our regional economy and create family-wage jobs. 

 

According to a recent report by the Department of Energy, 20 percent of the U.S. could be powered by wind energy by 2030.  But, we must commit approximately $60 billion in new transmission capacity over the next 20 years to reach that target.

 

Congress is expected to pass a very robust stimulus bill in January.  While details of this package have not been finalized, it is likely to focus primarily on revitalizing America’s infrastructure by funding projects that will create jobs and economic stimulus over the next two years.

 

Editors’ Note:  For a copy of Cantwell’s opening statement, please contact the press office at (202) 224-8277.

 

 

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