Title: New England Clean Energy Council Applauds House for Passing Clean Energy Consortium Pilot Program
Industry sector: Education/Research
New England Clean Energy Council Applauds House for Passing Clean Energy Consortium Pilot Program
Pilot Program Included in the America COMPETES Act Will Fund Public-Private Partnerships Critical to the Nation’s Clean Energy Economy
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The New England Clean Energy Council (the Council) joins Reps. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Lois Capps (D-Calif.) in applauding the U.S. House of Representatives for passage of a new, pilot program to spur regional energy innovation. The regional Clean Energy Consortium would accelerate regional clean energy research, commercialization and cluster development by bringing research universities, national labs and venture firms together with industry, state and nongovernmental organizations. Introduced by Rep. Markey, the ground-breaking plan is based on a program included in the Waxman-Markey energy and climate bill, and is one of many major initiatives included in the America COMPETES Act which passed the House on Friday May 28th.
“This is a very major milestone towards gaining federal support for regional collaboration, innovation clusters and energy advancements, and we applaud the House for taking these steps to make the nation’s clean energy economy a reality,” said Peter Rothstein, President of the New England Clean Energy Council. “Regional energy innovation clusters are the engine to accelerate energy research, commercialize new energy technologies and grow our clean energy economy.”
The House’s support for this program is broad recognition of the potential these regional partnerships have to accelerate the growth of the nation’s clean energy economy. The Council is one of many regional organizations across more than 30 states that are developing regional energy innovation cluster initiatives. It has also played a crucial role in organizing and creating the Consortia initiative.
“The regional Clean Energy Consortia initiative is a major priority of the Council and we have committed significant effort to consideration of federal legislation,” said Hemant Taneja, co-chair of the New England Clean Energy Council and Managing Director at General Catalyst Partners. “On behalf of our Council members, I applaud the House and all 22 New England members of Congress for their vision and leadership in supporting this critical pilot program.”
Recognizing the key role this legislation plays in the nation’s competitiveness, the Council also calls on Senate Committees to take similar action as the COMPETES Act and the regional Clean Energy Consortium Program moves to the Senate.
Read more about the Clean Energy Innovation Consortia Project.