(Washington,
D.C.) – Today U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced the “Clean Energy
Works Act,” a new bill to help clean energy companies and workers in Washington
state and across the country innovate, grow, and create jobs. The bill expands
the State Energy Program that has been so successful in helping clean energy
companies in Washington state. It makes a substantial investment in national
clean energy research. And it invests in worker training to make sure clean
energy companies have the workers they need to grow, and companies that want to
reduce their energy consumption have the trained staff they need to save money
and protect the environment.
“Washington
state is already a leader in the clean energy
economy and the Clean Energy Works Act will help our workers and businesses
remain at the forefront of innovation and job creation,” said Senator
Patty Murray. “The Clean Energy Works Act invests in research, in
businesses, and in innovation. And it will help make sure that businesses
across the country have access to a workforce that is trained and ready to fill
the clean energy jobs we are working to create. As a nation, we need to end our
dependence on foreign oil and make sure clean energy jobs are created right
here in America.”
Murray’s
bill expands the State Energy Program that is successfully helping businesses
and creating jobs in Washington state. The Clean Energy Works Act
would increase Washington state’s allocation for this program from $500,000 to
up to approximately $30 million annually.
“The
State Energy Program has been instrumental in helping Washington engage our
private sector to accelerate the clean energy transition in our state and
create job growth,” said
Rogers Weed, Director, Washington State Department of Commerce “Senator
Murray’s legislation will help Washington state build on our current foundation
and will keep Washington moving toward a clean energy economy.”
“Senator
Murray again has taken a leadership role in pushing for practical solutions to
the challenges we face with regards to reducing our nation’s dependence on
fossil fuels and promoting clean technology innovation and workforce
development,”
said Steve Klein, General Manager, Snohomish County Public Utility District.
“She understands the basic foundational elements that need to be
nurtured such as education and training as well as technological
advancement. Senator Murray’s proposed legislation will be a catalyst for
real progress at this critical time to create the skilled workforce, the new
jobs and secure the overarching clean technology economic development potential
that has yet to be fully realized.”
“Farm
Power was thrilled to be chosen for a State Energy Program grant, and our
anaerobic digester project is creating jobs and pumping sustainable investment
in Washington’s economy,” said Kevin Maas, Farm Power. “We
are pleased that Senator Murray’s legislation will allow more companies like
ours to be a part of this important program.”
Murray’s
bill will also help local communities and businesses train workers to fill the
jobs being created in the clean energy industry.
“This
bill would greatly aid states and local communities in preparing the future
clean energy workforce, helping to provide jobs and reduce carbon emissions at
the same time,”
said Eleni Papadakis, Executive Director, Washington State Workforce
Training and Education Coordinating Board
Summary
of the Clean Energy Works Act:
Encouraging
Innovation to Create Clean Technologies
- State Energy Program:
- Requires
states who receive State Energy Program funds to use one-third of those funds
to provide grants and loans for renewable energy development, to energy
technology companies and to promote energy efficiency. - Changes
existing funding allocation formula from existing basis on energy consumption
to energy savings. - Substantial
authorization increase to $1.5 billion per year (would mean $20-30 million for
WA, which currently receives $500,000)
- Requires
- Advanced Research Project Agency – Energy (ARPA-E): Reauthorizes
ARPA-E, increases authorization to $1 billion per year. ARPA-E funds
high-risk, high value, potential “game changing” proposals for low carbon
energy technologies.
Preparing
A Clean Energy Workforce
- Regional Energy Alliance Skills Grants:
Competitive grants to producers of low-carbon producing energy industries (such
as solar, wind, hydro, biomass, nuclear, etc.) in states or multi-state regions
to educate, train, hire, and retain the skilled workers they need to grow their
ability to provide energy at scale. - Regional Industry Energy Efficiency Grants: Competitive
grants to industries that are high energy consumers (such as within
manufacturing) to train or retrain workers to have the skills necessary to
reduce their energy use through the use of new equipment, new practices, or
other means. - Customized Renewable Energy Training Grants: Competitive
grants to single companies either in the low-carbon producing energy industry,
or an industry that supports such an industry, to provide the training
necessary to have the skilled workforce to be competitive. These grants
need individual company needs, especially to companies that may not be in a
regional cluster of similar companies in an industry.
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