Washington, DC - Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) made the following opening statement this morning at the Committee on Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Energy & Environment hearing titled “Renewable Energy: Complementary Policies for Climate Change”:

“Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding this important hearing.  You are to be commended for building a strong record and for making a strong case for swift and well-thought out action on climate change. 

“The title of this hearing speaks for itself: renewable energy can and should be a complementary policy for climate change.  But, as I have said for years, it must be a well-thought out renewable energy standard. 

“We in Michigan are saddled with an extremely depressed economy and I have to tell you, Mr. Chairman, we have exactly the kind of workers who can benefit from the jobs created by a strong renewable energy sector.  We have some of the best metal workers in the world who would love the opportunity to be on the forefront of new technologies.

“I would also point out that Michigan, like many other states, has their own renewable energy standard.  Ours is ten percent by 2015.  As we move forward with a national standard, it is important that we take what the states have already done into consideration and we have a framework within which they can work.

“Now, as always, Mr. Chairman, the devil is in the details.  For example, it makes no sense to me to put waste in a landfill – thus taking up space AND in the long run spewing methane into the atmosphere.  This is, as you all know, one of the very greenhouse gases which we will need to reign in to effectively address climate change.  Why add to the problem of landfill space and methane gas when we can utilize that waste for energy while still maintaining strong air quality standards?

“Finally, I want to stress the importance of an inclusive approach as we move forward with climate change legislation.  While we are talking specifically about renewables here today, it is my strong belief that any comprehensive climate change legislation needs to include other non greenhouse gas emitting technologies.

“Again, Mr. Chairman, thank you.  I look forward to hearing from our witnesses here today.”

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