November 2, 2009
Morrisville, PA— Congressman Joe Sestak (PA-07) toured the Exelon-Conergy Solar Energy Center in Bucks County today in order to discuss how to best incentivize innovation in green technology here in Pennsylvania with representatives from one of the nation’s largest utility companies. The Congressman, a leading advocate of the American Clean Energy and Security Act that passed in the House, also commended Exelon for following principle and leaving the Chamber of Commerce due to its lobbying efforts against climate change legislation.
“I want to make sure that the new clean energy economy has a “Made in America” stamp. We cannot let America, for the first time in our history, fall behind,” said Congressman Sestak. “Pennsylvania manufacturing is not a thing of the past. With the right investment and right commitment, it will be the key to our recovery and our future.”
The Exelon-Conergy Solar Energy Center will produce roughly 3,700 megawatt hours of clean energy annually and reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by four million pounds, making it the largest facility of its type on the East Coast and one of the top five largest in the U.S. The development and realization of the Exelon-Conergy Solar Energy Center was the result of successful cooperation among Exelon; Conergy, a German renewable energy financer with a U.S headquarters in Philadelphia; Waste Management; Falls Township; and the Pennsylvania DEP.
Exelon Corporation is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities with more than $15 billion in annual revenues and approximately 5.4 million customers. It is also a strong advocate for climate change legislation. In late September, Exelon left the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a business lobby in Washington D.C., along with Apple Inc. and Nike Inc. because of the Chamber’s polarizing and misleading rhetoric about climate change and their unwillingness to be flexible about regulating carbon dioxide emissions. According to Exelon CEO, John Rowe, “Inaction on climate is not an option.”
Congressman Sestak has worked hard to ensure that inaction would not characterize America’s response to the threat of climate change. He helped pass the American Clean Energy and Security Act this June, and is now urging the Senate to fully support the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act. He also voted for H.R. 3585, the Solar Technology Roadmap Act, which passed the House in October and authorizes over $2 billion in new research partnerships and demonstration projects for solar energy technologies.
“Addressing climate change will take a combination of smart policy, sound business investment, and principle. It will take leadership from all sectors of society, which is why I also secured $200,000 in appropriations for a “brightfield” solar farm on a former superfund site in Lower Providence Township,” said Congressman Sestak. “You cannot ship a solar farm or a factory overseas to be retrofitted, which is why these clean energy sites are such a positive investment for our state and our nation. We want green energy jobs created in Pennsylvania to stay in Pennsylvania.”
Born and raised in Delaware County, former 3-star Admiral Joe Sestak served in the Navy for 31 years and now serves as the Representative from the 7th District of Pennsylvania. He led a series of operational commands at sea, including Commander of an aircraft carrier battle group of 30 U.S. and allied ships with over 15,000 sailors and 100 aircraft that conducted operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. After 9/11, the Congressman was the first Director of Deep Blue, the Navy’s anti-terrorism unit that established strategic and operations policies for the Global War on Terrorism. He served as President Clintons Director for Defense Policy at the National Security Council in the White House, and holds a Ph.D. in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University. According to the office of the House Historian, Congressman Sestak is the highest-ranking former military officer ever elected to the U.S. Congress.
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