June 22, 2021
The Honorable Charles Schumer The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Majority Leader Speaker of the House
U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Mitch McConnell The Honorable Kevin McCarthy
Republican Leader Republican Leader
U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515
Dear Majority Leader Schumer, Speaker Pelosi and Leaders McConnell and McCarthy:
A bipartisan majority of Americans agree that now is the time for Congress to make targeted investments in the critical infrastructure systems that Americans rely on to work, travel, and enjoy a high quality of life. Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) strongly believes that energy is infrastructure and that current negotiations present Congress with an opportunity to support our growing clean energy industry.
CRES supports the inclusion of the following proposals in any final infrastructure package, which will lay the foundation to create and secure jobs, keep energy costs low, and address climate change. These priorities include, among others:
- Impactful Federal Permitting Reform – Congress should codify the One Federal Decision rule, and Federal Permitting Reform and Jobs Act (FAST-41 reauthorization), which would reduce the overall timeframe for clean energy infrastructure projects to be reviewed, permitted, installed, and upgraded.
- Alternative Fuel Vehicle Infrastructure – Congress should advance provisions within the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021 (STRA) that will make electric and alternative vehicles an option for more Americans and build out the necessary charging and fueling infrastructure across our nation.
- Carbon Capture, Utilization, & Storage and Direct Air Capture – Congress should enact the SCALE Act to help continue the progression of needed innovative technologies that will decarbonize industry without sacrificing good jobs.
- Improving U.S. Electric Power Infrastructure – Congress should increase investments to upgrade our transmission assets and improve the grid’s resiliency, flexibility, and cybersecurity. Grid modernization will accelerate the adoption of cleaner forms of energy.
- Fully Fund & Implement the Bipartisan Energy Act of 2020 – Congress should commit to robust funding for energy research, development, and demonstration priorities, including in the areas of hydrogen, direct air capture, advanced nuclear, geothermal, hydropower, energy efficiency, and industrial emissions technology.
CRES believes that infrastructure and energy go hand-in-hand. Investing in our nation’s crumbling infrastructure also presents one of the greatest opportunities for simultaneous job creation and emissions reductions in a generation. Congress must not miss this chance to revolutionize America’s energy infrastructure, and CRES stands ready to work with Congress to achieve these goals.
Sincerely,
Heather Reams
Executive Director