Hastings' Amendment Included in Passage of the Solar Technology Roadmap Bill

(Washington, DC)- Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-Miramar) voted in favor of H.R. 3585, the Solar Technology Roadmap Act of 2009. Included in the Act was an amendment introduced by Hastings that ensures the appointment of diverse representation on the Solar Technology Roadmap Committee.

"This legislation allows us to seize the opportunity to research and develop solar technology. Solar power is an innate source that can provide much advancement in the world of energy and technology," Hastings said.

H.R. 3585 directs the Secretary of Energy to carry out a program of research, development, and demonstration for solar technology. It requires the Secretary to provide grants to academic institutions, national laboratories, government research agencies, nonprofit organizations, and industrial entities and appoint a committee to develop the Solar Technology Roadmap. Hastings´ amendment ensures that the Secretary of Energy, when appointing members to the Solar Technology Roadmap Committee includes representation from minority serving institutions.

"I believe that minority serving institutions have a history of technical expertise, where many are actually land-grant institutions. Thus, they have significant extension efforts which translate research into applied resources for the communities they serve."