In Key Hearing, Heinrich Calls For Proactive Measures That Support Clean Energy Technology And Transportation Infrastructure

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, asked government officials and energy industry leaders to identify and break down current barriers that slow the use of clean energy and transportation technologies across the U.S.—especially in rural communities. 

VIDEO: Heinrich Calls For Proactive Measures That Support Clean Energy Technology And Transportation Infrastructure [HD DOWNLOAD LINK HERE]

In a hearing to examine ways to strengthen transportation technologies and increase manufacturing in the U.S., Senator Heinrich encouraged the witness panel to promote the manufacturing and deployment of hydrogen production components - like electrolyzers – by working to reduce costs or considering tax incentives.

Senator Heinrich, who has called on the Biden administration and private industry to look towards New Mexico as a leader in clean energy, highlighted the advantages of hydrogen fuel cell technology. Senator Heinrich believes that America needs a hydrogen strategy to decarbonize the parts of the U.S. economy that cannot be easily electrified, and New Mexico is uniquely positioned to become America’s center of excellence for the hydrogen economy.

In the hearing, Senator Heinrich also noted that in order to meet reduced carbon emission goals, the U.S. must accelerate the deployment of zero-emission vehicles. With a major infrastructure package on the horizon, Senator Heinrich is urging that rural electrification and infrastructure that supports hydrogen energy be prioritized in order to meet those deployment demands.

In February, Senator Heinrich led 12 Senate Democratic colleagues in a letter to President Joe Biden, announcing forward-looking proposals to help the Biden administration ramp up the electrification of the federal vehicle fleet. Senator Heinrich expressed disappointment in U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s decision to lock in gas-powered vehicle purchases for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) fleet – and has since called for his resignation.

For the full video of today’s hearing, please click here. For the full list of today’s witness panel, please click here.