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04/16/08

NARC and NEARC Send Letter on Energy Policy to New England Congressional Delegation

Category: The Washington Update
Posted by: shannon
      

 

April 16, 2008

 
Dear New England Congressional Delegation,
 
The National Association of Regional Councils (NARC), representing local elected officials and regional councils, councils of governments and metropolitan planning organizations nationwide, and the New England Association of Regional Councils (NEARC), a NARC member representing all of the New England regional councils and local elected officials, strongly promotes and kindly requests your support of NARC’s recommendations on energy independence and security that encourage the development, sustainable funding and full enactment of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (PL 110-140), a comprehensive and integrated national energy policy. Executing national energy polices and developing clean energy technologies will advance energy efficiency and renewables, reduce harmful greenhouse gas pollution, become an economic driver for the future, and develop a new workforce sector for the 21st century and beyond – all of which would be a boon to the New England region.
 
Regional councils (RCs) are a key element in executing sustainable national policies and technologies at the local level – both rural and urban – particularly as it relates to smart growth, transportation, air quality planning and workforce development in an effort to become carbon neutral, energy efficient and proactive in addressing climate change. RCs have direct authority in developing the plans and projects and following the mandates required by the state, local or federal government for the betterment of the community and region. It is, therefore, critical that RCs are provided adequate resources to fulfill the goals of energy independence and security.
 
NARC and NEARC recommend the following to achieve energy independence and security:
–         Fully fund the Energy Efficient and Conservation Block Grant program (EECBG) at $2 billion per year to reduce fossil fuel emissions and total energy use, as well as improve energy efficiency and conservation in the transportation and building sectors with funding distributed and prioritized at the local level.
–         Urge the expansion of “green jobs” and fully fund this program at $50 million annually for the new "green collar" workforce training, which updates traditional workforce development programs to train at-risk/underemployed people in emerging energy and environmental skills.
–         Support and increase incentives for the research, development and application of technologies that will reduce energy dependency and promote clean energy, renewable energy and energy efficiency.
–         Support the use of alternative energy sources, including nuclear, wind, solar, wave, biofuels, clean coal, geothermal, etc.
–         Distribute incentives and funding through multi-jurisdictional regional planning organizations in order to comply and maintain national energy goals at the local levels.
–         Encourage incentive-based programs that will empower localities and regions to create solutions that will promote energy standards and needs.
–         Support regional government collaboration on determining and employing solutions at the regional level.
–         Seek coordination among appropriate federal agencies to assist with implementation.
–         Encourage partnerships between federal, state, regional and local government, and public and private industry.
–         Support current programs at the state, local and regional levels to address climate change, energy independence and conservation.
 
These, we believe, are consistent with the outcomes developed at the New England Congressional Caucus on Energy that was held recently in Boston, MA.
 
NARC and NEARC offers assistance on these or any other issues and welcome an opportunity to work with you and your staff on specific legislative initiatives that would move these recommendations forward. Please feel free to contact either of us at any time (Fred Abousleman: 202.986.1032, x.216 or fred@narc.org; Dave Danielson: 603.227.2311 or d.danielson@comcast.net ). Thank you.
 
Sincerely,
 
Fred Abousleman                                              
Executive Director, NARC 


David Danielson
President, NEARC
NARC Region I Board Member
Commissioner, Town of Bedford, NH
 
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