Congressman Tonko holds a firm commitment to protecting our environment, working alongside local businesses and municipalities to address our climate crisis and promote clean energy usage. Research and development on clean energy facilities, including wind energy and hydroelectric energy, have been focal points of the Congressman’s work in Congress. Congressman Tonko’s initiatives continue to promote improved energy efficiency in our Capital Region and beyond.
Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act
A bill to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to revise and strengthen the process and requirements for determining whether regulatory control is needed for manufacturing, distributing, processing, using, and disposing of certain chemicals. This legislation also expands EPA’s testing authority by allowing the agency to require new information through a consent agreement or an order.
Brownfields Enhancement, Economic Redevelopment, and Reauthorization Act of 2017
A bill to boost funding to clean up and redevelop “brownfield” sites, which are commercial properties that are unable to be redeveloped or reused due to pollutants and hazardous substances. The legislation also expands which sites are eligible for the brownfield program by allowing higher-risk sites to be cleaned and redeveloped.
Weatherization Enhancement and Local Energy Efficiency Investment and Accountability Act
A bill to reauthorize the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program and allow the DOE to award grants to companies and non-profits with innovative weatherization methods. The legislation also gives funding to assist low-income households with weatherizing and using renewable energy in their homes.
Gas Turbine R&D Act
A bill to establish an R&D demonstration program to improve the efficiency of gas turbines used in power generation systems. More efficient turbines will not only decrease carbon emissions but also save power generators billions of dollars.
Reliable Investment in Vital Energy Reauthorization Act
A bill to reauthorize a Department of Energy (DOE) program through 2036 that provides incentives for hydroelectric production and incentivizes improvements in efficiency at small-scale hydroelectric facilities.
Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2019
A bill to authorize the Department of Energy (DOE) to accelerate research and development for wind energy. It also allows the DOE to offer R&D grants and allows for a reduction of regulations that limit how widely wind energy can be adopted.
American Innovation and Manufacturing Leadership Act of 2020
A bill to establish a regulatory program to phase down the production and use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by 85% by 2036. HFCs, industrial chemicals primarily used for air conditioning and refrigeration, produce greenhouse gas emissions that are building up rapidly in the atmosphere.
BATTERY Act
A bill to authorize the Department of Energy to create a research and development program to support the recycling and reuse of batteries in an environmentally safe and sustainable manner.
Manufacturing for Our Future Act of 2021
A bill to establish a program to award grants to encourage the use of clean energy technology in manufacturing. With portions included in both the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, this bill also established a grant program to encourage the decarbonization of energy intensive manufacturing facilities.
Restoring Offshore Wind Opportunities Act
A bill to overturn an arbitrary Trump-era ban on offshore wind energy development in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. This provision of the Inflation Reduction Act will jumpstart clean energy deployment and create high-quality jobs across the nation.
POWER our Reservoirs Act of 2022
A bill to require the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to study opportunities to advance clean energy technologies and protect against drought by deploying floating solar panels at Army Corps reservoirs.
