The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF RIALTO RENEWABLE ENERGY CENTER” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Energy was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1327 on July 15, 2010.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF RIALTO RENEWABLE ENERGY CENTER
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HON. JOE BACA
of california
in the house of representatives
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Mr. BACA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of my colleagues and the Administration an innovative clean-energy project currently under development in my District in California.
The Rentech Rialto Renewable Energy Center will be a first-of-its-
kind facility, where biomass from grass clippings and tree trimmings from surrounding communities is converted into diesel fuel and electric power.
The electric power from this project, so greatly needed in our region, will contribute to utility efforts to meet obligations under the California Renewables Portfolio Standard, displacing current, conventional fossil energy-based power generation.
Because the fuel produced is biodegradable, cutting pollution significantly compared to conventional fuels, eight airlines (Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, UPS Airlines and US Airways) have already signed a contract to buy this fuel for their ground equipment at Los Angeles International Airport.
I consider this to be a model project that other cities in California and around our country can adopt to not only help cut our dependence on foreign oil, but also to reduce emissions of green house gasses and pollutants.
I have urged the Department of Energy to give the Rialto Renewable Energy Center all due consideration as it considers Rentech's application for a Title 17 loan guarantee under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
This project exemplifies what Congress had in mind when it created a new category in this program for ``renewable energy systems'' and
``leading edge biofuels projects'' that ``substantially reduce life-
cycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to other transportation fuels.''
This project will bring energy security, as well as environmental and economic benefits to our community. Two-hundred and fifty jobs will be created during construction, and once operational, there will be about 70 permanent jobs on the site.
Additional jobs will be created or sustained both upstream in the collection and transportation of the green waste or downstream in the distribution of the fuel. Rialto and San Bernardino have been especially hard hit by the recession, and these jobs are desperately needed in my District.
Today I again call upon the Department of Energy to support this project for the many benefits that it will not only bring to San Bernardino County and the rest of Southern California and the Inland Empire, but also for the benefits that our nation will reap from future versions of this project located in other areas.
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