Commending the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for its work of promoting energy efficiency for 30 years.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 251) commending the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for its work of promoting energy efficiency for 30 years.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 251, the resolution now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I would first like to thank my good friend and colleague from Colorado (Mr. Perlmutter), the sponsor of this resolution, which recognizes the invaluable contributions of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, or NREL. The gentleman from Colorado and I both share deep concern about our Nation's dependence on imported oil and the impact that fossil fuels have on our environment.

As someone who has worked at the national laboratory, I have spent many years at the laboratory working as an engineer, a consultant, and I certainly appreciate the work that NREL does. Tucked in the foothills of the Rockies and looking up to the scenic Flatirons, NREL has led the charge in developing and deploying cost-effective energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies for three decades. I have been continually impressed by the caliber of work that this laboratory has put out over the years.

New energy technology takes time to develop. It's a long, difficult process, but we have seen tremendous advances. For example, in wind energy we have seen it come from an outlying technology to where now it's one of the leading sources of new energy in the world. We can expect other forms of energy technology such as solar, geothermal, and energy efficiency technologies to follow that same trajectory to becoming cost-effective and competitive with all other forms of energy.

The experts at NREL have played a critical role in developing a range of technologies that will transform our energy future. NREL scientists and engineers have made breakthroughs in such diverse areas as biofuels, wind, solar power, near zero-energy buildings, and super efficient cars and trucks.

As our country works to combat climate change and achieve energy independence, NREL's mission is more important than ever. But staying ahead of the technology curve requires considerable resources and very smart policymaking. I am sure that the dedicated employees of NREL share my appreciation for this resolution and will continue their tireless efforts to bring energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and practices to the marketplace.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

I thank the gentleman from Texas for his remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Perlmutter).

Mr. Speaker, I don't have any further speakers or any further comments, but I just want to point out that NREL has done a fine job. I want to see this institution and this government support and continue to support that kind of work that is going on in northern Colorado.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Thank you, Mr. McNerney, and I want to thank Mr. Hall. All of you are supporting this particular resolution, and it is one that is apropos for our time right now. We need to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and the National Renewable Energy Lab, NREL, which is about three blocks from my house, is the leading organization in the world for developing energy efficiency technologies and renewable energy technologies.

Today, I rise to honor and commend that laboratory, which is the premier in the country. In 1977 the Solar Energy Research Institute opened and was designated a national laboratory of the Department of Energy. In 1991, President George Bush changed the institute's name to the National Renewable Energy Lab, which I will call NREL.

NREL is the principal research laboratory for the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and also provides research expertise for the Office of Science. Changing our energy policy and developing a new direction for energy was and is a high priority for Americans across the country. We must reduce our dependency on foreign oil and we must increase our supply of renewable energy. We cannot afford the status quo any longer.

Leadership in the House on both sides of the aisle has shown this understanding for the increase in renewable energy and energy efficiency across the country, and for the first time in a long time this Congress passed a budgetary increase to the Office of Energy Efficiency and to the Office of Science so that NREL can continue its vital and important research and development in these particular areas.

NREL has advanced our national energy goals by developing innovative ways to change the way we power our homes and businesses and fuel our cars. They have developed competitions for solar cars and energy efficient homes. In fact, many times the races have ended here in Washington, DC, and we have had on the mall these competitions among our colleges and brightest kids as to how to make our buildings more energy efficient.

NREL has worked to develop biomass, solar, wind, geothermal, hydrogen, and the list goes on, types of renewable energy, and it has worked on both renewable energy for buildings, as I said, as well as renewable fuels for vehicles. Now more than ever we must seek ways to increase production of renewable energy and make our country more energy efficient, and NREL is helping to do just that. By seeking and creating avenues to develop renewable energy and improve our energy efficiency, we can strengthen our national security, protect our environment, and create thousands and thousands of new jobs.

I commend NREL on its work for the past 30 years, and I look forward to their work in the next 30 years. I thank the 1,200 current employees and the past employees who helped make NREL the leader that it is today. I thank the gentleman from Texas and the gentleman from California as well as the Speaker for helping me with this bill and commending this laboratory for the good work that it does.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 251, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, NREL, in Colorado. The facility serves our Nation as the chief research laboratory for energy efficiency and renewable energy for the Department of Energy. As the co-chair of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus, I am proud to celebrate this organization and its invaluable work to set our country on a course towards sustainable energy practices.

The range of research areas at NREL is remarkable; from hydrogen- storing carbon nanotubes for fuel cell-powered vehicles to architectural computer design tools for low-energy construction to ``smart windows'' which automatically tint in order to cut the cost of air conditioning, NREL has developed cutting-edge technology for 30 years. NREL's National Wind Technology Center, located in my district, has helped push forward development of more efficient and economic wind turbines, which are critical to making the wind industry an important player in our Nation's energy markets. NREL will continue to be a leader on important research and development in these critical areas.

NREL continues to be an important resource for the people of Colorado. NREL is a critical participant in the Colorado Renewable Energy Collaboratory Agreement, which also includes the University of Colorado at Boulder, the Colorado School of Mines and Colorado State University. The Collaboratory will not only advance new energy research, but it will also encourage quicker transfer of new technology to energy businesses. For example, the new Colorado Center for Biorefining and Biofuels, C2B2, partners NREL and the Collaboratory with Colorado businesses to help reduce our dependence on foreign sources of oil while researching commercially viable biofuel technologies.

NREL and its employees continue a tradition of service to the community. Hundreds of NREL employees have completed over 43 community service projects in the past 5 years. NREL has focused community efforts for its 30th anniversary on helping the ``Family Tree'' organization, which provides assistance to the homeless and victims of domestic violence.

On a personal note, I have greatly enjoyed working with NREL scientists and staff, including NREL's former Director, Vice Admiral Richard Truly, and NREL's current Director, Dr. Dan Arvizu. I have great respect for both men and look forward to continuing to work with Dr. Arvizu for many years to come.

As the world demands sustainable energy solutions in a new era of energy awareness, I am confident that the talented scientists, engineers, and researchers at NREL will continue to lead our country and the world forward in expanding and improving our energy resources. I join my colleagues in recognizing NREL for its 30 years of service and look forward to many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 251, commending the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for its work promoting energy efficiency for 30 years. NREL, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, based in Golden, Colorado, is the hub of our Nation's work into renewable and alternative energy research and development.

Since 1977, when it began as the Solar Energy Research Institute before changing its name in 1991, NREL has received many accolades and many awards. In the past 30 years, NREL has received 39 R&D 100 awards, as well as hundreds of Scientific and Technical Society honors and awards, Technology Transfer awards, and Department of Energy and other agency awards.

NREL's success has continued under the leadership of its current director, Dr. Dan Arvizu, who has made the transferring of technologies from the lab to the marketplace a real priority. It's through this ``technical transfer'' that we see inventions and discoveries at work in the real world and not sitting on a proverbial shelf collecting proverbial dust.

As we have reached a time in our energy history that we are realizing more and more the importance of and the place that renewable and alternative forms of energy have in our current and future energy mix, NREL's significance and prominence as a world leader in this field is becoming increasingly evident and appreciated. The resolution before us today recognizes NREL for its 30 years of service to our country. I am proud that such a facility exists in this great country of ours. I could only be prouder if it were in my home State of Texas.

I thank Dr. Arvizu and all the scientists and employees at NREL. You serve our country and serve our future very well.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support House Concurrent Resolution 251.

With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.