Council on Competitiveness President Praises Senator Reid’s Clean Renewable Energy Act as “Major Step Forward”

WASHINGTON—The Council on Competitiveness, a group of CEOs, university presidents and labor leaders working to ensure U.S. competitiveness, commends Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) for his newly proposed Clean Renewable Energy and Economic Development Act.  ?

?”We applaud Senator Reid for his bold leadership,” said Deborah Wince-Smith, president of the Council on Competitiveness. “This Act is a major step forward towards the establishment of a National Transmission Superhighway as recommended by our leaders from business, labor and academia in Prioritize, the Council’s 100 Day Energy Action Plan. We believe strongly that these efforts will be absolutely critical to U.S. competitiveness in the coming decades.” ? ?

The Clean Renewable Energy and Economic Development Act is designed to promote investments in transmission by establishing a streamlined planning and siting process for transmission lines for federally designated renewable energy zones.

Prioritize calls for the creation of a National Transmission Superhighway to make America’s electric grid more reliable, more secure and capable of being “plugged in” to all renewable energy sources. Like America’s legendary interstate highway system, an intelligent, national energy infrastructure will unleash the dynamic capacity of America’s private sector to innovate, create jobs and stimulate economic growth. It is a “must” to ensure America’s long-term competitiveness. ? 

?The Council strongly believes that sustainability and energy transformation can only be achieved through the development of clean, renewable energy technologies. Its membership of leaders from business, labor and academia look forward to active participation from the administration and Congress in the National Energy Summit this fall in Washington to continue the dialogue and robust debate concerning the nation’s future energy policies.