WASHINGTON DC — In a letter delivered today to the leaders of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives as well as to the key congressional tax and energy policy committees, 29 member groups of the Sustainable Energy Coalition called upon Congress "to enact the FULL SET (emphasis added) of energy efficiency and renewable energy tax incentives that have been pending before the U.S. Congress since at least the beginning of 2003."
The organizations noted that "many of these provisions have been approved in the past one or more times by the Congress only to subsequently become incorporated into, and mired down by, more controversial legislation."
Moreover, it now appears likely that the Congress will seek to only approve a few selected sustainable energy tax provisions before ending its current session.
The letter’s signers argued that "these renewable energy and energy efficiency tax incentives must be freed from the burden of controversial legislation that may not pass the Congress this year," and urged Members "to enact these provisions, including comparable tax treatment for cooperative and municipal utilities, on their own merits … before you end this session and go home."
Furthermore, they wrote, "enactment of these incentives is absolutely imperative to curb our dependence on energy imports, reduce rising oil and natural gas prices, and cut the growing emissions of greenhouse gases.
Failure to approve these measures will cost quality renewable energy jobs, cripple new basic domestic industries, and set back the recovery of businesses hurt by rising energy prices. It will also worsen national and homeland energy security and environmental quality, the nation’s balance of trade, and American industry’s international competitiveness."
Finally, the letter reminded Members that "enacting these tax incentives is one of the best things you can do for your constituents, your states, and for the nation’s energy future" and that "it is now well past the time when they should be signed into law."
The full text of the letter and complete list of signing organizations follows.
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The Sustainable Energy Coalition is a coalition of nearly 100 national and state environmental, consumer, energy-policy, and business organizations which collectively represent several thousand companies and community-based groups. Founded in 1992, the Sustainable Energy Coalition works to promote increased use of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies.
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SUSTAINABLE ENERGY COALITION
1612 "K" street, N.W.; #202-A
Washington, D.C. 20006
202-293-2898, ext.201
September 22, 2004
Dear Member of Congress:
We, the undersigned business, environmental, consumer, and energy policy organizations, are writing to urge you to enact the full set of energy efficiency and renewable energy tax incentives that have been pending before the U.S. Congress since at least the beginning of 2003.
These proposals enjoy broad support among the Members of the U.S. Congress as well as among the members of the U.S. public. In fact, many of these provisions have been approved in the past one or more times by the Congress only to subsequently become incorporated into, and mired down by, more controversial legislation. It is now well past the time when they should be signed into law so they can begin helping American consumers and businesses cope with their energy problems.
Enactment of these incentives is absolutely imperative to curb our dependence on energy imports, reduce rising oil and natural gas prices, and cut the growing emissions of greenhouse gases. Failure to approve these measures will cost quality American jobs, cripple new basic domestic industries, and set back the recovery of businesses hurt by rising energy prices. It will also worsen national and homeland energy security and environmental quality, the nation’s balance of trade, and American industry’s international competitiveness.
Congress has a unique opportunity, as well as a responsibility, to American voters to help the nation invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies in the power, transportation, residential, appliance, and other sectors. But to realize this opportunity, these renewable energy and energy efficiency tax incentives must be freed from the burden of controversial legislation that may not pass the Congress this year.
Enacting these tax incentives is one of the best things you can do for your constituents, your states, and for the nation’s energy future. Consequently, before you end this session and go home, we urge you to enact these provisions, including comparable tax treatment for cooperative and municipal utilities, on their own merits.
Sincerely,
Alliance for Affordable Energy
Alliance to Save Energy
American Bioenergy Association
American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
American Public Power Association
American Solar Energy Society
Bob Lawrence & Associates, Inc.
Breakthrough Technologies Institute
Business Council for Sustainable Energy
Cascade Associates
City & County of San Francisco
Clean Fuels Development Coalition
Colorado Energy Group
Environmental & Energy Study Institute
Exquisite Heat
Geothermal Energy Association
Geothermal Resources Council
National Environmental Trust
National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition
New Uses Council
Northwest Sustainable Energy for Economic
Development
Renewable Fuels Association
Solar Energy Industries Association
Solena Group
The Stella Group, Ltd.
Sturman Industries
SustainableBusiness.com
Union of Concerned Scientists
Vermont Energy Investment Corporation
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