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Reps. Tonko, McKinley Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Gas Turbine Production Efficiency

1% greater efficiency across U.S. would save billions in fuel costs, secure U.S. energy leadership and eliminate millions of tons of CO2 emissions every year

"Investing in innovation and greater efficiency in our energy production is one of the easiest and most important things we can do for our economy, our environment and our national security. Even a small increase in the efficiency of our nation’s power generators can save billions of dollars, dramatically reduce carbon pollution and secure our own energy independence." - Rep. Paul Tonko

WASHINGTONRepresentatives Paul Tonko (D-NY) and David McKinley (R-WV) introduced H.R. 1877, bipartisan legislation that would increase federal research & development investments in the energy efficiency of gas turbines currently being used to generate electricity across the U.S.

Rep. Paul Tonko (NY-20): “Investing in innovation and greater efficiency in our energy production is one of the easiest and most important things we can do for our economy, our environment and our national security. Even a small increase in the efficiency of our nation’s power generators can save billions of dollars, dramatically reduce carbon pollution and secure our own energy independence. This bill will also help ensure America remains the undisputed leader in turbine technology, putting us in a position to compete for an even greater share of the global energy market and retain valuable domestic manufacturing jobs in the process.”

David B. McKinley, P.E. (WV-1): “Investing in research and development for gas turbines will help America reclaim the mantle of leadership in energy technology. We should not allow foreign countries to supplant us as the leader in innovation on gas turbines. This bipartisan legislation will create a partnership between industry and government to improve efficiency and will ultimately result in good paying jobs for American workers.”

If adopted, H.R. 1877 would authorize the Secretary of Energy, through the Office of Fossil Energy, to carry out a multiyear, multiphase program of research, development, and technology demonstration to improve the efficiency of gas turbines used in power generation systems and to identify the technologies that ultimately will lead to gas turbine combined cycle efficiency of 67 percent. Currently, more than 84% of gas turbines are manufactured in the United States.

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