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“INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF ENVIRONMENTALLY-SAFE COMPOSITE UTILITY POLES” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Energy was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1479-E1480 on July 29, 2010.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF
ENVIRONMENTALLY-SAFE COMPOSITE UTILITY POLES
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HON. DANNY K. DAVIS
of illinois
in the house of representatives
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing legislation to encourage the domestic development, adoption and deployment of recyclable and environmentally-safe composite utility poles for use in the distribution and transmission of electricity. As Congress works to invest in our nation's electricity infrastructure to deliver critical new sources of energy to our cities and towns, it is time we also modernize the electricity delivery infrastructure so that it is more reliable, environmentally-safe, and cost-efficient than the current, century-old model. Our 21st Century electricity infrastructure must meet the changing demands of a diverse society, survive unforeseen natural disasters, and help deliver technology to improve our lives. Composite utility poles meet these demands.
Composite products are made from a variety of components such as glass, resins and fiber reinforcements that, when combined, produce stronger and lighter materials. Composites are integrated into products surrounding us every day, including swimming pools, cars, airplanes, wind turbines, and power plant cooling towers. Composite manufacturing in the United States is a fast growing, $70-billion industry that employs approximately 550,000 Americans. My legislation will help spread this innovative technology to our nationwide network of approximately 130 million aging wooden utility poles. In the process, we also will create high quality, long-term manufacturing jobs here at home.
Composite utility poles last longer and are considerably lighter than wood, concrete and steel. They do not require treatment with harmful chemicals to prevent decay; as a result, they can be used in environmentally-sensitive areas, such as deserts, marshlands, national parks, forests and monument areas. Composite poles withstand severe weather conditions, including extreme temperature changes and fierce winds. They also are impervious to corrosion and require little maintenance, key issues for places like Chicago that must use salt often during winter to address icy road conditions and lose many steel and wooden poles due to the associated corrosiveness of the salt. In urban areas, composite poles can internally house WiFi and other wireless infrastructure and help clean up streetscapes by replacing unstable and unsightly chemically-treated poles with fewer composite poles. Composite pole life expectancy ranges from two to three times as long as traditional wood poles.
My bill takes two steps to promote the development and use of these utility poles. First, it amends the advanced manufacturing credit to allow the Treasury Department and the Energy Department to consider allocating a credit to the advancement of composite technology for our nation's energy infrastructure. Second, it provides a 30% tax credit to purchasers of composite poles that contain 15% recyclable or bio-
content material, are recyclable at the end of their life, and are used for electricity distribution and transmission. This credit is intended as a catalyst to expedite the adoption and deployment of composite utility poles, helping taxpayers invest in this new infrastructure. As such, this credit would expire after five years.
In closing, I urge my colleagues to join me in co-sponsoring this legislation to ensure that green energy is transported by green infrastructure.
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