Momentum for a US FIT policy is building!

July 30, 2009 Washington DC: Hosted by The World Future Council, Congressman Jay Inslee from Washington state and Congressman William Delahunt from Massachusetts held a briefing on Feed-in Tariff renewable energy policy. In a packed briefing room at the House of Representatives Congressman Inslee stated “The two hottest things in America today are the iPhone and Feed-in Tariffs. In order to solve the security problems of the grid we need to foster multiple technologies and feed-in tariff policy accomplishes that goal”

Seventy-five 75 people attended including the staff from over 20 House Members. Inslee and Delahunt are planning to re-introduce the federal feed-in tariff bill, with some small changes.  It was HR 6401 in the last Congress.  They are also planning to add a section on Federal financing for municipal feed-in tariff projects. 

James Woolsey, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, stated that “the grid is vulnerable to cyber and physical attacks. We [US] don’t do renewable energy well and part of the problem is our focus on utility scale power plant instead of distributed generation. Let’s give credit to the Germans for their approach. We have a chance if we get behind this policy. Vermont has it [Feed-in Tariff policy] right. We need to make a push and get busy.”

Randy Hayes, World Future Council, and James Bradbury from Congressman Inslee’s office opened the briefing and moderated the panel. One participant commented, people were no longer asking how a FIT works. They were wanting to know how to get one passed.

Other MISC Points of Info

• 75 people attended including staff from over 20 House Members
• At least three members of the press. It was videotaped by Clean Skies TV http://www.cleanskies.com/
• From the reporter: It was reported on our 4pm news show, which just finished. We used part of what Jim Woolsey said. You should be able to see the show archived, any time now, at www.cleanskies.tv. And you gave me plenty of good information for future coverage of this issue -- I am sure it will come up again. Thanks!
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• Event was hosted by the World Future Council
• Event was sponsored by Congressman William Delahunt from Massachusetts and Congressman Jay Inslee from Washington state.
• Quotes: Congressman Inslee stated “The two hottest things in America today are the iPhone and Feed-in Tariffs.” “In order to solve the security problems of the grid we need to foster multiple technologies and feed-in tariff policy accomplishes that goal.:
• They are planning to re-introduce the bill, with some small changes.  It was HR 6401 in the last Congress.  They are also planning to add a section on Federal financing for municipal feed-in tariff projects.  If you have any thoughts or suggestions on how to improve the proposal before it is re-introduced contact: John Juech: Legislative Aide: Congressman William D. Delahunt Phone: (202) 225-3111