Congresswoman Matsui Introduces Legislation to Boost Clean Energy Manufacturing and Exports

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 26, 2011

CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 225-7163

Congresswoman Matsui Introduces Legislation to Boost Clean Energy Manufacturing and Exports
Will Enhance U.S. Standing in Rapidly-Growing Global Clean Energy Economy

Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA), a Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, introduced the Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act of 2011 to boost the competiveness of the U.S. clean technology industry both domestically and overseas. As part of the Make it in America manufacturing initiative, this legislation will help further the Sacramento region's progress toward becoming a clean tech capital, and work to develop America as a leader in clean technology. The bill is co-sponsored by leading Members of the Energy and Commerce Committee, including Ranking Member Emeritus John D. Dingell (MI-15). This legislation passed the House last Congress, but was not considered by the Senate prior to adjournment.

Just as the President emphasized in his State of the Union address last night, America must continue to lead the way in innovation in order to both rebuild today's economy, and bolster the industries of tomorrow, stated Congresswoman Matsui. The clean energy sector is one area where the U.S. is unfortunately falling behind and we must change that. America has an historic opportunity to become a leader in clean technology. My legislation will create a strategy for achieving our clean energy goals by encouraging American clean technology manufacturers across the country to sell their American products here at home and around the world.

I am proud to join with my friend, Representative Matsui, in introducing this important legislation, the Clean Energy Export Act, said Dingell. It is part and parcel to the President's goal of doubling exports in five years and gives wonderful incentive to American companies to design and manufacture the environmentally friendly technologies of tomorrow. Initiatives such as the one proposed in this bill will help our country gain a competitive edge in the export of the technologies the rest of the world wants and needs.

Our nation's clean tech industry is lagging behind many of its international competitors, particularly in exports. According to a recent U.S. Senate Report, the U.S. clean technology industry exported about $7.7 billion in products and services between 2004 and 2008, compared to China's $22.7 billion and Germany's $19.6 billion. Moreover, the Department of Energy has found that the increase in exports of green technology could reach $40 billion per year and could create more than 750,000 jobs by 2020.

The Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act would create a Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Fund to be administered by International Trade Administration within the Department of Commerce to help increase the competitiveness of American-made clean technology industry in the U.S. and in the international marketplace. The newly-created Fund would support the development, implementation, and sustainability of a National Clean Energy Technology Export Strategy, and assist U.S. Clean Tech firms with export assistance in finding and navigating foreign markets to sell their goods and services abroad.

The Matsui legislation would also help strengthen America's domestic clean technology manufacturing industry by requiring the Fund to promote policies that will reduce production costs and encourage innovation, investment, and productivity in the domestic clean energy technology industry. In turn, that will help American companies increase their demand and create new, good jobs in communities like Sacramento.

From world-class universities and training facilities to a range of existing clean tech companies and forward-thinking utilities, Sacramento is uniquely positioned to become a national leader in a country working to become a global leader in clean technology, Matsui added. This legislation will foster growth in this sector and help jumpstart our local economy.

The Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act will help US firms export their goods and services abroad, said Lisa Jacobson, President of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy. The introduction of this bill shows Congress's recognition of the important role that clean energy sectors play in putting Americans back to work and strengthening our manufacturing sector. The Business Council for Sustainable Energy encourages Congress to act upon this important piece of legislation and to also press forward with additional legislation that will expand domestic markets for clean energy and energy efficiency goods and services in order to strengthen the economy and create jobs.

Jack Crawford, CEO of Jadoo Power, Inc., a fuel cell and solar products company based in the Sacramento region, lended his support to the legislation, This bill sets out a national strategy to assist U.S. clean energy technology companies with export assistance critical help to find new markets for their products and services and better compete in the international marketplace. The bill also provides domestic manufacturing assistance to find new ways to reduce production costs, and promote innovation, investment and greater productivity in the clean technology sector. If we expect the US to compete in the global marketplace with clean technology products manufactured in our country, we must actively support the creation, production, and delivery of power technology invented by companies like Jadoo.

It is astounding that the United States actually has a trade deficit in clean energy, when American companies are among the most competitive in the world, remarked Ed Gerwin, Senior Fellow for Trade and Global Economic Policy at Third Way. Third Way's research has found that a prime reason for this is that promoting clean energy exports has often been a back burner issue for the U.S. government. The Matsui legislation puts this issue on the front burner, and would help drive economic growth and create good, new jobs through a national focus and smart, targeted investments to promote these key exports.

Kristine Mazzei, Program Manager for the Green Capital Alliance in Sacramento, added her support for the legislation, saying, Congresswoman Matsui's Clean Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act is another way for our country to support growth in companies, and spur needed job growth. The clean technology cluster is an important component of the economic turnaround in the Sacramento region's economy. As such, we ve worked with local clean tech companies to discover how we can best accelerate their expansion and have learned that improving competitiveness on the global stage with export assistance is critical. Congresswoman Matsui has turned these requests for support into a responsive piece of legislation, and we hope it will move forward to passage as swiftly as possible.

Grant Grable, Vice President of Sales and Manufacturing for local clean tech company Sunoptics, also sent this letter of support for Congresswoman Matsui's legislation.

For more information on Congresswoman Matsui's work on clean energy, visit www.matsui.house.gov/cleanenergy.

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