Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, expressed her support of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 that passed the Senate tonight by a vote of 86-8.

 Senator Boxer said: “While it should have been a better and stronger bill with tax breaks for renewable energy and a requirement for electric utilities to use more solar, wind and geothermal energy, it is still a good first step toward a cleaner future for America.” 

Senator Boxer outlined four provisions included in the energy bill that came out of the Environment and Public Works Committee: 

 ·  The green buildings provision for the construction of “green” government buildings.  This provision would also provide grants to states for green schools programs;
·   The provision to retrofit old federal buildings with energy-efficient technologies such as better lighting.  This provision would also provide grants to cities and counties to make buildings more energy-efficient; 
·   The provision to establish a demonstration project at the Capitol Hill Power Plant to capture greenhouse gases from burning coal;
·   And the provision authorizing construction of a “solar wall” on the roof of the Department of Energy headquarters in Washington, DC.

Senator Boxer said: “As a Senator from California, whose state has been such a leader on energy efficiency, I am pleased to see the federal government finally taking these steps, especially in the face of soaring energy costs and the threat of global warming.”

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