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Washington, D.C., March 4,
2008 — A coalition of more than 100 business, trade and advocacy groups
today called on the U.S. Senate to pass bipartisan legislation as
soon as possible that extends renewable energy and efficiency tax
credits that have already expired or will expire at the end of this
year. The tax incentives would strengthen the renewable energy
industry and expand the market for energy-efficient products, which
ultimately would reduce residential and commercial energy costs,
generate new domestic jobs, and boost a flagging economy, according
to the coalition.
“Renewable energy sources like solar and wind are a proven
economic engine for our country. They’ve created tens of
thousands of green collar jobs and billions of dollars in
investment,” said Rhone Resch, president of the Solar Energy
Industries Association. “Congress and the administration
should seize this opportunity to support this high-growth
sector.”
The business-consumer coalition includes 47 manufacturers,
including Dow Chemical, DuPont, Owens Corning and Whirlpool; eight
retailers, including Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s and
Wal-Mart; 23 trade associations, including the American Institute
of Architects, Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, the
National Association of Homebuilders and the National Small
Business Association; 25 advocacy groups, including Environment
America, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club and Union
of Concerned Scientists; and 10 utilities, including Constellation
Energy, Exelon and Florida Power & Light. (For a complete list
of the 114 coalition members, go to the bottom of this
release.)
Historically, Congress has extended clean energy tax incentives in
only two-year increments, creating a boom-bust cycle that impedes
industry development. The ideal Senate tax incentive package, the
coalition said, would extend incentives for wind, solar and biomass
for a number of years to provide the stability financial investors
need to back new projects.
In addition to extending tax credits for renewable energy sources,
the coalition urges the Senate to extend tax incentives for
constructing energy-efficient buildings, investing in solar
electric systems, installing efficient home heating and cooling
equipment, manufacturing efficient home appliances, and
retrofitting existing homes to save energy.
“Our nation’s buildings account for 70 percent of our
nation’s electricity use, and that’s why these incentives
are vitally important to deploy energy-efficient designs,
technologies and equipment,” said RK Stewart, FAIA, former
president of the American Institute of Architects. “The end
result is that we would get the most energy-conserving buildings
possible, which means reduced utility bills for businesses and
homeowners, and lower overall energy demand across the
nation.”
Jeffrey D. DeBoer, president and CEO of the Real Estate Roundtable,
a policy organization that represents the commercial real estate
industry, agreed. “By extending energy tax incentives,
Congress will be encouraging the rapid rollout of a new generation
of high performance, energy-efficient green buildings,” he
said. “With energy prices soaring, passing these incentives is
just common sense and key for any credible energy
policy.”
Steven Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an
Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), also pointed out that an ACEEE
analysis found that extending the energy efficiency provisions
would add roughly 15,000 jobs to the U.S. economy, considering both
added jobs in the energy efficiency and service industries and lost
jobs in the traditional energy industries.
Members of the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) also see
major benefits to extending the incentives. “These energy tax
credits encourage the construction of ‘green’ buildings
and the use of solar technology, all practices engaged in by RILA
member companies,” said Lori Denham, RILA executive vice
president for government affairs and industry operations.
“Furthermore, these credits encourage consumers to purchase
energy-efficient products, such as appliances, which save on energy
costs and reduce overall consumption.”
Joseph M. McGuire, president of the Association of Home Appliance
Manufacturers explained how the incentives for manufacturers would
make it easier for them to market super-efficient clothes washers,
refrigerators and dishwashers. “The incentives will accelerate
design, production and market acceptance of highly efficient
appliances, potentially saving consumers $33 million per year in
electricity, gas and water costs and $360 million over the life of
those appliances,” he said.
Besides the economic rationale for supporting the incentives is the
pressing need to address global warming, said Marchant Wentworth, a
clean energy advocate at the Union of Concerned Scientists.
“We don’t have to choose between the economy and the
environment,” said Wentworth. “Extending these tax
credits will help stimulate the economy and protect public health
and the planet at the same time.”
COALITION MEMBERS:
Retailers
Best Buy Co., Inc.
The Home Depot, Inc.
Lowe’s Companies, Inc.
Macy’s Inc.
Safeway, Inc.
Target Corporation
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Whole Foods Market, Inc.
Manufacturers
Abengoa Solar
Akeena Solar
Ameresco
Applied Materials, Inc.
Apricus Inc.
Ausra, Inc.
Ballard Power Systems
BrightSource Energy
Conenergy
The Dow Chemical Company
DuPont
Energy Conversion Devices
Energy Innovations, Inc.
EPV Solar
Fuel Cell Energy
GridPoint
Hydrogenics
Johnson Matthey
Millennium Cell, Inc.
Mitsubishi Electric & Electronics USA, Inc.
MMA Renewable Ventures, LLC
Oerlikon
Owens Corning
Plug Power, Inc.
PPG Industries
Q-Cells AG
REgrid Power
ReliOn
SANYO Energy (U.S.A) Corporation
SCHOTT Solar, Inc.
Schuco USA LP
Sharp Solar
SkyFuel Inc.
Solar Integrated
Solar Millennium LLC
Solar Power, Inc.
Solar World
SOLEC-Solar Energy Corporation
Spire Solar, Inc.
SunPower Corporation
Suntech America, Inc.
Trane
Trinasolar
United Solar Ovonic
United Technologies Corporation
Whirlpool Corporation
USA Biomass
Trade Associations
American Institute of Architects
American Wind Energy Association
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning
Engineers, Inc.
Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
Building Owners and Managers Association International
Business Council for Sustainable Energy
California Solar Energy Industries Association
CCIM Institute
Institute of Real Estate Management
Insulating Concrete Form Association
International Council of Shopping Centers
North American Insulation Manufacturers Association
National Association of Home Builders
National Association of Industrial and Office Properties
National Association of REALTORS
National Electrical Manufacturers Association
National Small Business Association
Northeast Public Power Association
Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association
The Real Estate Roundtable
Retail Industry Leaders Association
Solar Energy Industries Association
US Fuel Cell Council
Advocacy Groups
Alliance to Save Energy
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
American Council on Renewable Energy
American Rivers
Audubon
Climate Solutions
Earthjustice
Environment America
Environmental and Energy Study Institute
Environmental Law & Policy Center
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Friends of the Earth
Greenpeace
National Tribal Environmental Council
National Wildlife Federation
Natural Resources Defense Council
New Voice of Business
Physicians for Social Responsibility
Public Citizen
Sierra Club
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
Union of Concerned Scientists
Western Organization of Resource Councils
Western Renewables Group
The Vote Solar Initiative
Union
The United Steelworkers
Utility
California Energy Commission
Constellation Energy
Exelon Corporation
Florida Power & Light Company
Great River Energy
PG&E Corporation
PPM Energy, Inc.
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
SunEdison
Xcel Energy Company
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