Collins Leads Efforts to Create Jobs and Grow Maine’s Clean Energy Economy
WASHINGTON — Today, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) formally announced its endorsement of U.S. Senator Susan Collins in her reelection bid for the United States Senate.
In order to receive CRES’s endorsement, candidates must acknowledge a role for the federal government in reducing America’s carbon emissions and developing a robust clean energy industry, as well as demonstrate leadership on policy initiatives related to climate change and emissions reduction.
“Senator Susan Collins has been one of the Senate’s most steadfast clean energy and climate champions. Her leadership on policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions, fighting climate change, furthering clean energy technologies and protecting Maine’s environment is second to none,” said CRES Executive Director Heather Reams. “As a long-time champion of harnessing the power of renewable energy, she’s worked to secure our electric grid, grow wind and solar jobs, and lower energy costs for Mainers while serving in the United States Senate. CRES once again is proud to formally endorse Susan Collins, a clean energy and climate champion, for reelection.”
“The people of Maine reject the false choice of pitting the environment against the economy because, here, the environment is the economy,” said Senator Susan Collins. “I have long worked to advance innovative clean energy technologies that will help us fight climate change and create good-paying jobs. I am grateful for this recognition from Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions for my efforts to preserve our nation’s stunning beauty for future generations.”
CRES-endorsed candidates have contributed to a policy landscape to advance clean energy and emissions reductions in a way that puts the needs of the country first. Examples of initiatives and legislation championed by CRES and endorsed candidates have included reforming and reauthorizing ARPA-E and advanced nuclear research and development; commonsense, market-based emissions-reduction policies, including legislation to help farmers, ranchers and landowners embrace sustainable farming practices and participate in voluntary carbon markets; and policy solutions to incentivize the next generation of hydropower, wind, solar and geothermal generation, among others.
Senator Collins’ record on clean energy includes the following:
- The Better Energy Storage Technology (BEST) Act, legislation introduced by Senator Collins to help advance energy storage technologies and make our nation’s grid more reliable and resilient, passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in September 2019.
- Senator Collins co-sponsored the Great American Outdoors Act, which passed the Senate in June and was signed into law by President Trump on August 4. The bill would permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) at $900 million per year and address the multi-billion dollar deferred maintenance backlog at our national parks, wildlife refuges, and forests. Legislation to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) was enacted with Senator Collins’ strong support.
- Senator Collins joined Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) in introducing the Home Energy Savings Act and the New Home Energy Efficiency Act, bills that will help lower energy costs for families and incentivize greater energy efficiency in the construction of new homes.
- Senator Collins joined Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) in introducing the Super Pollutants Act, legislation that aims to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), including methane, black carbon, and hydrofluorocarbons.
- Senator Collins is a strong supporter of the Weatherization Assistance Program and has continually secured increased funding for the program, including a $51 million increase for the program in fiscal year 2020. She also joined Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) in introducing the Weatherization Enhancement and Local Energy Efficiency Investment and Accountability Act of 2019 to reauthorize this important program.
- Lead sponsor on the recent U.S. Senate resolution formally recognizing National Clean Energy Week 2020. S. Res. 705 passed the United States Senate by unanimous consent on Sept. 17, 2020.
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