Press Releases

Today, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), co-chairs of the Bipartisan Congressional Solar Caucus, applaud the inclusion of clean energy and solar provisions in the end of the year omnibus spending bill.

These critical provisions will support a switch towards reducing emissions as well as support the 3.3 million Americans employed in the clean energy sector. The clean energy provisions included in the omnibus spending bill include:

• Reauthorization of the Department of Energy’s solar energy research and development activities,

• Research on photovoltaic, heating and cooling, concentrating solar energy systems, grid integration, and photovoltaic recycling;

• Establishing a solar energy technology materials database and an advanced solar manufacturing initiative to enhance domestic manufacturing capabilities;

• Improvements in interagency cooperation for issuing permits in order to keep costs competitive for solar, wind, and geothermal projects on federal land.

Additional, the package incorporates Rep. Norman's bill H.R. 617, the Department of Energy Veterans’ Health Initiative Act, which authorizes a research partnership partnership between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Energy to help extract meaningful insights from the VA’s healthcare data, and ultimately provide better care for our nation’s veterans.

Growing our economy and reducing our emissions are not competing interests. These bipartisan provisions including in the omnibus spending bill will provide essential measures needed to improve clean energy technologies, and ultimately expand access and affordability for all Americans.

Congressmen Norman and Krishnamoorthi issued the following joint statement on Wednesday:

“Solar energy has been the bellwether for the clean energy industry, and it’s critical that we continue to work towards growing the middle class, securing energy independence and lowering our carbon emissions."

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