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HOUSTON (May 7, 2014) –The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its list of the top 100 users of green energy and declared the City of Houston ninth in the Nation. As an additional trophy, Houston’s purchase of 622,887,000 kilowatt-hours of Texas wind power edged out the U.S. Department of Energy for the title of top government purchaser.

“I am proud to be part of Mayor Parker’s energy team that affirmed Houston’s title as the renewable energy Capital,” James Cargas, the Democratic candidate for U.S Congress in District 7 said. Cargas is currently Mayor Annise Parker’s Senior Assistant City Attorney for Energy, a position he also held under Mayor Bill White.

“All of the City’s renewable energy comes from Texas wind power generators,” Cargas said, “Houston purchases power at near wholesale rates, and Houston’s commitment to purchasing renewable power improves our air quality in Texas and decreases the cost of renewable power over time. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

But all is not cool breezes in Houston. “Rep. John Culberson has voted against the continuation of a federal production tax credit for wind power that made this wind power available and cost competitive,” Cargas continued. Rep. Culberson and the House Republicans refused to renew the tax credit and allowed it to expire on Dec. 31. 2013. Texas companies were the largest recipients of the wind power tax credit in 2013. Existing wind power generators will continue to receive the tax credit for 20 years, but not new wind generators. “The damage has been done. New wind power installations plummeted 93% once the tax credit expired,” Cargas explained as he also noted that thousands of job in the District depend on the wind industry.

“While the City of Houston is committed to supporting the renewable energy industry and clean alternatives, Rep. Culberson is not,” Cargas added, “he is costing the Texas wind industry money and Texans their jobs.”

Houston Deserves Better!

James Cargas offers extensive public service experience. He has served in the U.S. House of Representatives as a deputy press secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as a law clerk, Clinton White House as an aide, and U.S. Department of Energy under Secretary Bill Richardson as a political appointee. He currently serves Mayor Annise Parker as the Senior Assistant City Attorney for Energy for the City of Houston, a position he also held under Mayor Bill White. James is married to Dr. Dorina Papageorgiou, a neuroscientist who works in the Texas Medical Center.

Additional information on the James Cargas campaign.