WASHINGTON,
D.C. – U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today expressed support for
creating a Clean Energy Deployment Administration (CEDA) to encourage
development of new energy technologies, but made clear that the cost of the
program would need to be offset by spending reductions elsewhere in the federal
budget.
“This
debate should be about how to make better use of all of our resources,
including the revenues that result from energy production,” Murkowski said.
“Despite the high initial costs of creating a Clean Energy Deployment
Administration, I continue to believe that it’s a smarter, more efficient way
for the federal government to promote clean energy technologies.”
Legislation
creating CEDA was voted out of the Energy Committee on a bipartisan basis last
Congress. The proposal would address the persistent lack of available financing
for clean energy projects. CEDA allows the opportunity to re-use its funding
over time to back private lending for clean energy projects, instead of only
offering one-time payments in the form of grants or tax credits as previous
programs have done.
“It
is my view that we must find an acceptable offset for CEDA,” Murkowski said.
“An offset will not only help CEDA become a reality; it will also help us hold
the line on new spending and ensure we do not add to our national debt.”
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