Clean Energy and Lower Bills
"America simply cannot afford an energy policy that leaves us dependent upon fossil fuels, beholden to hostile foreign governments, and responsible for degrading our environment. We must embrace a new energy future that invests in energy efficiency, promotes renewable energy and reduces carbon pollution."
Spotlight on Energy
Energy efficiency creates good manufacturing and installation jobs, cuts energy bills, and improves the environment. Rep. Welch is the leading proponent of energy efficiency in the House of Representatives. Building on Vermont’s national leadership in the field of energy efficiency, he has advanced legislation to cut energy bills for homeowners, farmers, businesses, schools, apartment buildings and government buildings. In 2015, President Obama signed into law bipartisan legislation authored by Rep. Welch to improve the efficiency of commercial buildings, water heaters, and federal buildings.
Rep. Welch has also been a forceful advocate for renewable energy resources. He is fighting for national standards for renewable energy and strongly supports incentives to develop clean energy resources and the good jobs that go with them.
More on Clean Energy and Lower Bills
Reps. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Steve Womack (R-Ark) released the following statement on President Trump’s proposal to lift a federal ban on summer sales of gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol:
Burlington, Vt. – Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) issued the following statement on the Trump administration’s proposal to gut longstanding federal policy that reduces vehicle emissions harmful to the environment and block Vermont and other states from imposing emission standards stricter than the federal government:
Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) issued the following statement in reaction to the resignation this afternoon of EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt:
“It’s about time. Pruitt’s tenure has been an abomination. His legacy will be one of arrogance, misuse of taxpayer funds, and dismantlement of EPA’s core mission to protect the air we breathe and the water we drink.”
Rep. Welch called for Pruitt’s resignation on April 18, 2018. He is a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
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BURLINGTON, Vt. – This morning at Burlington’s City Market electric vehicle charging station on Flynn Avenue, Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) unveiled legislation he authored to make electric vehicles more affordable, easier to purchase, and easier to charge.
WASHINGTON – Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) introduced a congressional resolution designating the week of June 11 through June 15, 2018 as “High Performance Building Week.” The resolution recognizes that high performance buildings promote water and energy efficiency, protecting natural resources and reducing costs for building occupants.
Lawmakers concerned with negative public health impacts, lack of scientific analysis
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Peter Welch (D-Vt.) called on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt to abide by all legal and regulatory requirements as the Trump administration reportedly considers the year-round sale of gasoline with 15 percent ethanol by volume (E15).
WASHINGTON – This afternoon, at a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) sharply questioned Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt on his misuse of taxpayer funds.
WASHINGTON – As Vermont emerges from a winter of extreme cold, Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) has rallied a bipartisan coalition to fight for full funding of the Low Income Heating Assistance Program. President Trump has proposed eliminating the program in his budget two years in a row.
Today, in a letter led by Welch to the House Appropriations Committee, 171 Members expressed the critical importance of this safety net program to struggling families.
WASHINGTON — Vermont’s sole member of the House of Representatives is leading an effort to curb the production and related environmental impacts of corn ethanol.
Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., introduced legislation Thursday with Sen. Tom Udall, D-NM, aiming to reform national policies that incentivize the production of corn ethanol. It would instead increase incentives for more environmentally friendly biofuels.
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) introduced companion bills in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate to reform the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) by mitigating harmful environmental impacts and advancing the next generation of biofuels.
The GREENER Fuels Act (Growing Renewable Energy through Existing and New Environmentally Responsible Fuels Act) is the first bill in Congress to reform the RFS.