Rep. John Hall Announces Series of Forums on Energy Independence

Wind Energy Featured at First Event on April 9th in Beacon

CARMEL, NY — U.S. Rep. John Hall (NY-19), a longtime advocate of renewable energy, has announced that he will be hosting a series of public forums in the 19th Congressional District focused on accelerating the development and widespread use of alternative energy sources.
    “Our country must greatly increase the adoption of alternative energy sources if we are ever going to achieve energy independence,” said Hall. “By hosting these forums, it is my hope that the Hudson Valley becomes a significant leader in the production and use of all kinds of renewable energy.”
    The first forum, “Harvesting Wind Power for the Hudson Valley,” will take place Monday, April 9th, from 7-9 p.m. at the Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main Street, Beacon.  Future alternative energy forums hosted by Rep. Hall will focus on other alternative sources such as solar power, hydropower, biofuels and geothermal energy.
    Hall, who purchases wind-generated electricity for his home in Dover Plains, is a member of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming of the U.S. House of Representatives.
    “Wind energy is slowly gaining greater acceptance because it is clean, renewable and, where weather conditions are right, it is abundant,” said Hall. “Wind turbines also are an opportunity for farmers and others to generate additional revenue.  I want to find ways to overcome obstacles to the wider use of wind power so businesses, families and governments can purchase wind energy more readily.”
    The public event will open with a report from Rep. Hall on Congressional efforts to promote renewable energy, especially wind power, and the work of the new Select Committee. The moderator for the event will be Bob Elliott, executive director of the New York Planning Federation. After Congressman Hall’s remarks, four wind energy experts will speak, followed by a question-and-answer period with the audience.

The guest speakers and topics will include:

Paul Curran, BQ Energy LLC:  “The Potential for Wind Energy in New York State and the Hudson Valley”

Keith Christensen, EarthKind Energy: “How You Can Purchase Wind Energy for Your Home, Business or Community”

Marion Trieste, GEOS Global, LLC.:  “Building Community Support for Wind Power in Your Town”

Peter Barton, Barton Orchards and Cornell Cooperative Extension Service:  “Wind Power: Farmers’ Next Cash Crop?”

Bob Elliot is a former mayor of Croton-on-Hudson. 

The House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming is charged with “recommending to the Congress policies, strategies, technologies and other innovations to reduce the dependence of the United States on foreign sources of energy and prevent global warming.” 

Despite world-wide consensus on the issue, some Republicans, including the minority members appointed to the Select Committee, still deny the occurence of climate change.  Katrina Vanden Heuvel of the Nation provides a Wish list for the Committee.