Clean Energy, Green Economy

In April, the Senate voted to extend critical incentives to the emerging clean energy industries, such as wind and solar power. Much of the federal support for these industries—namely the renewable energy production tax credit and the solar investment tax credit, are set to expire at the end of this year. We’re working to make sure that the House and the president do the same. Read the release.

American ingenuity, investment and hard work have created emerging clean energy industries, such as wind and solar power, that are not only taking steps toward solving global warming and America’s energy problems—they’re creating thousands of good jobs that help the economy and our environment.

Government support has helped put renewable energy on a slightly more level playing field with coal, oil, gas and nuclear power. In the states, forward-thinking energy policies are already making a big difference. Policies such as renewable electricity and energy efficiency standards and tax credits have lead to substantial growth. The federal government must maintain its support for clean energy and follow the lead of the states in passing these proven policies.

In order to put our country on the right track for a clean energy future we need to reduce our energy consumption by 10 percent nationally and get 25 percent of our electricity from clean, renewable sources.

To achieve these goals Congress must:
•    Extend the Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit before clean energy jobs are lost and emerging industries are stifled.
•    Pass a renewable electricity standard to get 20 percent of our energy from clean, renewable sources by 2020.
•    Ensure that large investments in clean, homegrown energy are part of any global warming bill and that future annual spending bills increase support for these important programs.