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07.09

First IEEE-USA Energy Fly-In Helps Legislators Develop National Energy Policy

By Bill Williams and Chris McManes

Whether it’s electricity, natural gas, oil or gasoline, Americans got used to plentiful supplies at low prices. But as we’ve seen in the past few years, those days are in the rear-view mirror of your father’s Buick.

With countries like India and China in building booms, and more and more of their citizens purchasing automobiles, competition for the earth’s finite supply of fossil fuels has driven prices up. Concern over the environmental effects of burning these fuels is also up.

So, whether we like it or not, the world’s energy landscape has changed.

“All Americans are going to have to commit to changing the way they use energy,” said Dr. Kenneth J. Lutz at the first IEEE-USA Energy Fly-In, 15-16 June on Capitol Hill.

Lutz is serving an IEEE-USA Congressional Fellowship in the office of Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). He has played an instrumental role in advising Wyden on the nine energy-related bills the Senator has introduced this year.

“We’re trying to get America on the path to real energy independence,” Lutz said.
Wyden discussed his plan for “Empowering Americans to Transform American Energy” before the Senate on 20 May.

“Americans consume too much oil, and they pay too high a price for it,” Wyden said. “National security pays a price. The environment pays a price and the economy clearly pays a price. It’s clear that Americans can no longer afford the energy policy of the status quo.”

IEEE-USA organized the Energy Fly-In to help stress to legislators the importance of formulating energy policy that bolsters economic activity, better protects the environment and promotes national security. The 40 or so IEEE members who came to Washington from across the country also offered their technical expertise to the members of Congress with whom they met.

The fly-in was timely considering that major energy bills are under consideration in both the House of Representatives and the Senate in response to the challenges of reducing America’s reliance on imported petroleum, and decreasing the impact of energy use on the environment. Fundamental changes to the nation’s energy landscape being considered include implementation of a cap-and-trade system for reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, and a renewable electricity standard that requires electric utilities to supply escalating amounts of power from renewable sources.

Day One of the Energy Fly-In was devoted to briefing participants on the specifics of the bills before Congress, how to conduct congressional visits and how to navigate Washington, D.C., and the halls of Congress. IEEE-USA President Gordon Day welcomed the attendees and encouraged them to get directly involved in the legislative process, particularly on energy issues. IEEE Executive Director Jim Prendergast participated in the orientation.

Day pointed out that IEEE is an organization with many members who are deeply involved in — and directly affected by — the ongoing energy policy debate, and that they should provide input on these issues.

“This unique event gave IEEE members an unparalleled opportunity to directly influence the direction of energy policy in Washington,” said Day, who served an IEEE-USA Congressional Fellowship in Sen. Jay Rockefeller’s (D-W.Va.) office in 2005.

Fly-in participants were encouraged to discuss IEEE-USA's National Energy Policy Recommendations on their visits, but were free to discuss whatever energy issues they felt were most important. To help familiarize attendees with the recommendations, IEEE-USA Energy Policy Committee Chair Tom Gentile gave an overview of the document. He explained how the principles were developed by the committee, which is made up of power engineering professionals and professors from across the country, and adopted by the IEEE-USA Board of Directors as an IEEE-USA policy statement. The recommendations contain several fundamental principles that IEEE-USA thinks policymakers should follow when developing a comprehensive energy strategy.

Gentile said the United States is facing an unprecedented dual challenge of addressing global climate change and America’s addiction to foreign oil. These challenges, according to Gentile, threaten the country's economy, national security and environmental health. Mitigating the threat requires action to transform our energy systems and our economy to one that is carbon-free, carbon-neutral or which successfully captures and stores carbon emissions on a geological time scale.

The policy statement, which Gentile called a “comprehensive and integrated set of recommendations,” focuses on four key areas: 1) transforming transportation through electrification of transportation systems and the use of alternative fuels; 2) building a stronger and smarter electrical grid; 3) increasing energy efficiency; and 4) greening the electric power supply through expanded use of renewables, expanding nuclear power, and research and development into carbon capture technology.

“We are really recommending a cultural change in the way we use and view energy,” Gentile said after one of his visits. “We must invest in new and established technologies, become better energy stewards and reduce damage to the environment.”

Fly-in participants headed to Capitol Hill on 16 June for more than 60 personal meetings with their national legislators and staff. IEEE-USA Legislative Representative Russ Harrison said personal visits are the best way to influence legislative outcomes.

“Legislators appreciate hearing from voters back home,” Harrison said. “They assume that if a voter makes the effort to travel all the way to Washington, he or she must feel strongly about the issue. Politicians desperately want to know what issues are important to their voters, so they listen when you take the time to tell them.”

One IEEE member who definitely had the ear of his legislators was Lee Stogner of Taylors, S.C. Stogner, IEEE Region 3 director-elect, met with staff of Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), Rep. Bob Inglis (R-S.C.), Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). The meeting in Inglis’ office included Legislative Fellow Catrina Rorke and Inglis himself.

Lee Stogner (Left) with Rep. Bob Inglis and Legislative Fellow
Catrina Rorke after their meeting in the congressman's office.

Stogner, who chairs the South Carolina Engineering Cluster, told Rorke and Inglis that his home state is one of one three regions in the United States (Philadelphia and Houston areas the others) that has the ability to design, equip and build a major engineering product or project.

“Rep. Inglis absolutely understands the importance of energy not only to his district but the entire state, because in our state we have got a concentration of engineering firms that design, build and support manufacturing plants and all sorts of other physical infrastructure that consume or, in some cases, produce energy,” Stogner said. “Our companies can consult, as well. They’re going to have to understand and then come into compliance with all sorts of details coming out of these energy bills. Energy and engineering companies, such as what we have in South Carolina, will be in a good position to not only help, but also grow with this industry.

Because traveling to Washington may not always be convenient, Harrison encouraged fly-in participants to visit their representatives in their district offices.
Engineers who are interested in technology policy issues are encouraged to visit the IEEE-USA Legislative Action Center. This resource center will help you learn about pending legislation and quickly contact your state and local legislators to tell them what you think.

Stogner said following-up with those you meet is key.

“Without the follow-up, you’re just one of thousands of visits that come and go,” he said. “With the follow-up, you can begin to build relationships and become part of the team that will advise the representatives on those tough technical issues that come up.”

Bill Williams is IEEE-USA's legislative representative for technology policy activities.

Chris McManes is IEEE-USA's public relations manager.

Comments may be submitted to todaysengineer@ieee.org.