Tom Tancredo: “today I am offering this amendment to the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill that will increase funding to the…”

“today I am offering this amendment to the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill that will increase funding to the Department of Energy's Renewable Energy Research Program by $9.9 million with a corresponding offset for the Army of Corps of Engineers' General Investigations Account. That account, by the way, is currently receiving about a $33 million increase above the President's budget request. Recent electricity and gas shortages in California and other western States, along with an expanding recognition of environmental issues, have highlighted the need for clean renewable power. Concentrating solar power technologies offers a near-term opportunity for large-scale and cost-effective production of renewable energy. An addition to these accounts would also allow the concentrated solar power program to continue its core long-term research and development activities that will help advance the next-generation trough and dish technologies. The focus would include identifying and implementing advanced converter options for modular dish systems.”