Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, on March 16, 2012, the Secretary of Energy issued a ``Memorandum for Power Marketing Administrators.'' This memo, commonly referred to as the ``Chu memorandum,'' has created a great deal of concern among our constituents who rely on Power Marketing Administrations, or PMAs, for affordable and reliable energy. As many of you know, the PMAs are four regional Power Marketing Administrations which have been delivering reliable, clean energy to consumers for over 75 years. The PMAs have been successful models of regional collaboration with local stakeholders and a guided principle of ``beneficiary pays,'' meaning that whoever benefits from the specific investments in the PMAs' infrastructure ultimately bears the cost. The former Secretary's memo directs the PMAs to act in areas involving transmission expansion, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and cybersecurity--all laudable goals--goals that, on the surface, I support. In fact, I have strongly advocated for the expansion of transmission here in Congress. However, I believe the Department of Energy's means of these goals, the ``Chu memo,'' would implement a top- down approach that could certainly impose greater costs and risks that outweigh benefits and could undermine the collaborative and low-cost, emissions-free nature of the Federal power program. This issue has undergone significant scrutiny here in Congress over the past year.…”