The House RE/EE Caucus, which includes 217 Members of Congress representing 44 states, the District of Columbia, and two territories, was founded more than a decade ago to serve as a bi-partisan, non-legislative source of information on sustainable energy technologies.

WASHINGTON DC -- In a letter sent today, 176 businesses, organizations, and individual activists called upon Members of Congress who have not yet joined the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RE/EE) Caucus to do so.

The House RE/EE Caucus, which includes 217 Members of Congress representing 44 states, the District of Columbia, and two territories, was founded more than a decade ago to serve as a bi-partisan, non-legislative source of information on sustainable energy technologies.

The letter's signers, which include 145 businesses and organizations as well as 31 individuals, noted that renewable energy technologies now contribute almost 8 percent of the nation's energy supply while energy efficiency investments made during the past three decades now save more than any single energy source.

"These technologies help to curb reliance on energy imports and lessen energy costs thereby enhancing both national and homeland security," they wrote. "They also improve the reliability of the nation's electrical grid, and - perhaps most importantly - reduce the production of greenhouse gases and other pollutants from traditional energy sources that contribute to global warming and a host of other environmental problems."

The letter added that "the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries include thousands of domestic companies that are providing an ever-growing number of jobs in every state and community in the United States."

Accordingly, the letter's signers are targeting those Members who have not yet joined, accounting for about one-half of the U.S. House of Representatives, and urging them to become members of the House RE/EE Caucus. Current non-members include a number of prominent congressional leaders from both parties:

Democrats:

* Xavier Becerra (CA) - Assistant to the Speaker
* John Dingell (MI) - Chair, Committee on Energy & Commerce
* Rahm Emanuel (IL) - Democratic Caucus Chair
* Tim Holden (PA) - Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy & Research
* Steny Hoyer (MD) - Majority Leader
* Nick Lampson (TX) - Chair, Science & Technology Subcommittee on Energy & Environment
* David R. Obey (WI) - Chair, Committee on Appropriations
* Peter J. Visclosky (IN) - Chair, Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy & Water Development

Republicans:

* Joe Barton (TX) - Ranking Member, Committee on Energy & Commerce
* Roy Blunt (MO) - Minority Whip
* John A. Boehner (OH) - Minority Leader
* Phil Gingrey (GA) - Ranking Member, Science & Technology Subcommittee on Technology & Innovation
* Ralph M. Hall (TX) - Ranking Member, Committee on Science & Technology
* David L. Hobson (OH) - Ranking Member, Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy & Water Development
* Jerry Lewis (CA) - Ranking Member, Committee on Appropriations
* Frank D. Lucas (OK) - Ranking Member, Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy & Research

A corresponding letter will be sent later this month to the Members of the U.S. Senate who have not yet joined the Senate RE/EE Caucus.

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The Sustainable Energy Network is an informal network created in 1996 now consisting of 500+ organizations and individuals promoting increased use of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies as preferred solutions to rising energy imports, greenhouse gas emissions, and nuclear risks.