McKinley Leads Efforts to Create Jobs and Grow West Virginia’s Clean Energy Economy
WASHINGTON — Today, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) formally announced its endorsement of Rep. David McKinley in his reelection bid for the U.S. House in West Virginia’s 1st Congressional District.
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.
“Congressman David McKinley been a strong advocate for strengthening America’s advanced clean energy technologies and building a stronger American energy sector for his constituents,” said CRES Executive Director Heather Reams. “During his time in the U.S. House, Congressman McKinley has worked to promote a safe and healthy environment and advance critical carbon capture sequestration policies that will create and preserve energy jobs in West Virginia. CRES is proud to formally endorse David McKinley in his reelection bid for the U.S. House in West Virginia’s 1st Congressional District.”
“For years we have been pushing for an energy policy that focuses on innovation that allows America to utilize all of our energy sources more responsibly and efficiently. American research and ingenuity can develop the technologies we need to reduce emissions — carbon capture, advanced nuclear, battery storage, and more — while ensuring America continues to benefit from abundant and affordable energy. I appreciate the recognition and support of CRES and look forward to continuing my work on this vital issue,” said U.S. Rep. David McKinley.
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.
Congressman McKinley’s record on clean energy includes the following:
- Recently released a bipartisan climate bill (Discussion Draft) which focuses on energy innovation and includes a Clean Energy Standard to further reduce emissions in the power sector.
- Lead sponsor of the Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) Act, a comprehensive bill to promote research, development, commercialization and deployment of carbon capture including the construction of carbon infrastructure and deployment of direct air capture.
- Lead sponsor of the Reliable Investment in Vital Energy Reauthorization Act (RIVER Act), legislation that reauthorizes hydroelectric production incentives and hydroelectric efficiency improvement incentives.
- Co-sponsor of the bipartisan USE IT Act, legislation which also supports carbon utilization and direct air capture research.
- Co-sponsor of the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act, a bill to promote the use of energy efficiency technologies in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors of the economy.
- Co-sponsored the Clean Industrial Technology Act, a bipartisan bill to incentivize innovation to reduce emissions in the industrial sector.
- Co-sponsored the Combined Heat and Power Act, a bipartisan bill to establish a CHP technical assistance partnership.
- Co-sponsored bipartisan legislation to improve the efficiency of natural gas power plants.
- Co-sponsored the U.S. House resolution formally recognizing National Clean Energy Week 2020.
- Serves as a senior member of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.
- Serves as a member of the U.S. House Climate Solutions Caucus.
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