Liz Friedlander (202) 225-1564
Liz.Friedlander@mail.house.gov

James Ryder (202) 225-0020
James.Ryder@mail.house.gov

Today, Congressman Tim Holden, D-Pa., Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research, held a hearing to review the Rural Energy Savings Program Act, which would encourage energy efficiency projects in rural communities.

The Rural Energy Savings Program Act, H.R. 4785, was introduced by House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., and Congressman Ed Whitfield, R-Ky., who also testified about the bill at today’s hearing. The bill would allow the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service to make interest-free loans to certain organizations that would then make loans available to qualified consumers who want to implement energy efficiency measures.

“Today's rural electric cooperatives are innovative leaders in improving our nation's energy infrastructure,” said Chairman Holden. “It is important that we use every resource available to encourage their work to assist consumers in rural communities to further improve energy efficiency while generating a significant number of new jobs. I commend Majority Whip Clyburn and Congressman Whitfield for their leadership on this issue.”

Written testimony provided by the witnesses is available on the Committee website: http://democrats-agriculture.house.gov/hearings/index.html. A full transcript of the hearing will be posted on the Committee website at a later date.

Witness List: 

Panel I

The Honorable James E. Clyburn, Member of Congress, 6th District of South Carolina

The Honorable Ed Whitfield, Member of Congress, 1st District of Kentucky

The Honorable Thomas S. P. Perriello, Member of Congress, 5th District of Virginia

Panel II 

Ms. Nivin Elgohary, Acting Assistant Administrator, Rural Utilities Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.

Panel III

The Honorable Glenn English, CEO, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Arlington, Virginia

Mr. Charles Adams, Chief Engineer and Director of Government Affairs, AO Smith Corporation, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Mr. Scott Bates, Corporate Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary, Rheem Manufacturing Company, Atlanta, Georgia

Mr. Paul S. Bony, Director of Residential Market Development, ClimateMaster, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Mr. Jon Cowan, President, Third Way, Washington, D.C.

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