Thursday, October 22, 2009  
Jim Hubbard, (202) 225-2671
Sara Howard, (314) 962-1523

(WASHINGTON, DC) - Today a bill to strengthen American solar technology and create clean-energy jobs co-sponsored by Congressman Russ Carnahan (MO-3) passed the U.S. House 310 to 106.  The Solar Technology Roadmap Act builds on the investments in the Recovery Act and the American Clean Energy Security Act to move our country toward energy independence and economic recovery.

"The United States mustn't allow countries like China pass us by when it comes to clean-energy technology of the future,""We must continue an aggressive policy of creating American jobs of the future now." said Congressman Russ Carnahan.

The Solar Technology Roadmap Act establishes a comprehensive process to facilitate the research, development and demonstration of American solar technology in partnership with the private sector. It requires the Secretary of Energy to appoint an 11-member Solar Technology Roadmap Committee to write, review and update a Solar Technology Roadmap.

The Roadmap will lay out short-term and long-term objectives for solar technology research and development while accounting for, and mitigating, any negative environmental impacts.  It will provide a path forward to make solar technology more dependable and widely available to American consumers.  The Roadmap will also authorize the Department of Energy to award grants to entrepreneurs, research agencies and academic laboratories that are leading the field in solar tech development and solar manufacturing.

"Harnessing the power of the sun has the potential to help create tens of thousands of clean energy jobs that can't be shipped overseas," said Carnahan. "In addition to creating much-needed jobs, this legislation addresses the challenges we face like reducing our dangerous dependence on foreign oil and cutting green house gas emissions."

Missouri University of Science and Technology and University of Missouri-Columbia students wrapped up a solar decathlon competition in Washington, DC last week.  Carnahan attended the competition where he met with students who constructed a sustainable home that harvests all of its energy needs directly from the sun. 

Today's legislation has been endorsed by the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), BP, IBM, Intel and National Semiconductor.

Congressman Russ Carnahan serves on the U.S. House Science and Technology Committee and is a member of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC).  SEEC advances policies that promote clean energy technology innovation and domestic manufacturing, develop renewable energy resources, create clean-energy jobs, help arrest global warming and protect our nation's clean air, water and natural environment.

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