Dear Member of Congress
December 1, 2015
Dear Member of Congress,
We are writing to ask you to support the growth of pollution-free renewable energy and to ensure the extension of critical federal incentives for clean renewable energy, including the Production Tax Credit (PTC), the Offshore Wind (OSW) Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for offshore wind, and the Solar Investment Tax Credit. As organizations, businesses, and elected officials representing millions of citizens, we believe responsibly planned and sited renewable energy – including onshore and offshore wind — provides tremendous environmental and economic benefits and must play a significant role in our nation s energy plan.
Working in tandem, wind and solar power have already provided tremendous benefits by reducing pollution, providing more stable electricity prices and creating local jobs. Both wind and solar have experienced significant growth because of these incentives. Unlike existing tax incentives and subsidies for incumbent fuels such as oil, gas, and nuclear, incentives for clean energy must be renewed frequently, leading to boom and bust cycles. The PTC has played a key role advancing wind energy, while the OSW ITC is key to the development of our yet to be realized offshore wind resource. Both of these expired last year. Similarly, the solar ITC, which expires at the end of next year, has been central to the major advances in solar energy. Wind energy can and should be a key component of the implementation of the Clean Power Plan, but strong federal policy such as the PTC and ITC are needed to ensure investment and development. The Clean Power Plan is the single largest step ever taken to reduce climate pollution in the U.S., and with wind energy at the forefront it can create clean energy jobs, improve public health, and move America to a clean energy future. Please support and work to renew the following renewable energy incentives:
- Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit (Section 45). The PTC, a critical tool that supports investments in wind power and other renewable energy technologies, expired in 2014. In 2012, uncertainty as to whether the PTC would be extended by Congress caused wind installations to drop 92 percent. Wind energy is a true American success story – now powering the equivalent of more than 16.7 million homes across the country.
- Investment Tax Credit for Offshore Wind Energy (Section 48). There is tremendous potential for powering our economy with the pollution-free wind energy that blows off our shores. However, despite this potential and the economic development opportunities, there are still no operating offshore wind facilities in U.S. waters.
- Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for residential (Section 25D) and commercial (Section 48) properties. The solar ITC has fueled dramatic growth in solar installations and manufacturing capacity, while providing long-term certainty to the industry that has allowed costs to fall. According to a recent study by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, extending the ITC beyond 2016 would result in more than 69 GW of new solar power being built across America between 2016 and 2022, representing a greater than 30 percent increase over the current trajectory.
To ensure a cleaner, healthier environment and a vibrant clean energy economy, please work to extend these provisions as soon as possible this year. In addition, please keep tax legislation from being sidetracked by riders that are irrelevant, harm public health and the environment, and stand in the way of important investments that mean real jobs for real people.
Sincerely,
National
Environment America
Natural Resources Defense Council
Oceana
National Wildlife Federation
Sierra Club
Clean Water Action
Defenders of Wildlife
Earthjustice
League of Conservation Voters
Energy Action Coalition
Environmental and Energy Study Institute
Climate Parents Environmental Defense Fund
GreenLatinos
Beyond Nuclear
Physicians for Social Responsibility
Health Care Without Harm
The Wilderness Society
Interfaith Power & Light
KyotoUSA
Moms Clean Air Force
The Rachel Carson Council
Nuclear Information & Resource Service
SustainUS
The Coalition on The Environment and Jewish Life
Regional
Acadia Center
Chesapeake Climate Action Network
Climate Solutions
Conservation Law Foundation
Gulf Restoration Network
NW Energy Coalition
Renewable Northwest
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
Southern Environmental Law Center
Wind on the Wires
Arizona
Association for the Tree of Life
Environment Arizona
Physicians for Social Responsibility, Arizona Chapter
California
Rick DeGolia, Atherton Mayor
Fred Gaines, Calabasas Councilmember
California River Watch
Scott Donahue, Emeryville Councilmember
Ruth Atkin, Emeryville Mayor
Environment California
Laura Friedman, Glendale Councilmember
Paula Perotte, Goleta Mayor
Omar Ornelas, Lathrop Councilmember
Jan Pepper, Los Altos Mayor
Paul Koretz, Los Angeles Councilmember
Skylar Peak, Malibu Councilmember
Marsha Grilli, Milpitas Councilmember
Physicians for Social Responsibility, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter
Colorado
Eva Henry, Commisioner, Adams County
Jill Ryan, Commisioner, Eagle County
Dan Gibbs, Commisioner, Summitt County
Sam Weaver, Councilor, Boulder County
Mary Young, Councilor, City of Boulder
Ross Cuniff, Councilor, Fort Collins City Council
Tom Quinn, Councilor, Lakewood City Council
Environment Colorado
Tom Dowling, Lafayette City Council
Kristian Teegardin, Mayor, City of Edgewater
Connecticut
Connecticut Fund for the Environment
Environment Connecticut
Save the Sound
Florida
Environment Florida
Georgia
Melissa Link, Commissioner of 3rd District in Athens-Clarke County
Bill Lockett, Commissioner of 5th District in Augusta
Jerry Nesmith, Commissioner of 6th District in Athens-Clarke County
Environment Georgia
Georgia Interfaith Power and Light
Illinois
Cotton Expressions
Environment Illinois
Indiana
Citizens Action Coalition
Iowa
Environment Iowa
Iowa Interfaith Power & Light
Maine
Environment Maine
Maryland
Sharon Middleton, Baltimore City Council Member
Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility
Dannielle Glaros, Council Member, Prince George s County, District 3
Chris Trumbauer, Councilman, District 6, Anne Arundel County
David Moon, Delegate
Andrew Platt, Delegate
Dan K. Morhaim, Delegate
Jeff Waldstreicher, Delegate
Environment Maryland
Izaak Walton League of America Maryland Chapter
Maggie McIntosh, Maryland Delegate
Andrew Fellows, Mayor, College Park
Susan Lee, Senate
Frank S. Turner, State Delegate
Massachusetts
Co-op Power
Joseph Lopes, Councilor Ward, New Bedford
Richard Elrick, Energy Coordinator, Bourne and Barnstable
Environment Massachusetts
Environmental League of Massachusetts
Mass Audubon
Alex Morse, Mayor, Holyoke
Gail Garrett, Selectman, Mt. Washington
Erik Yingling, Selectman, Provincetown
Adam Wilson, Town Administrator, Aquinnah
USGBC Massachusetts Chapter
Michigan
Environment Michigan
For Love Of Water
Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities
Sierra Club, Michigan Chapter
Minnesota
Environment Minnesota
Izaak Walton League of America Minnesota Chapter
Missouri
Missouri Coalition for the Environment
Montana
Earth Works Action
Environment Montana
Nebraska
Andrew Jameton, Professor Emeritus, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Nevada
Environment Nevada
New Hampshire
Environment New Hampshire
Green Alliance
New Jersey
Environment New Jersey
New Mexico
Environment New Mexico
Gail Chasey, Representative
Javier Martinez, Representative, District 11
Christine Trujillo, Representative, District 25
Stephanie Garcia Richard, Representative, District 43
Michael Padilla, Senator and Majority Whip, District 14
Jerry Ortiz y Pino, Senator, District 12
Daniel Ivey-Soto, Senator, District 15
Mimi Stewart, Senator, District 17
Benny Shendo, Jr., Senator, District 22
Nancy Rodriguez, Senator, District 24
Peter Wirth, Senator, District 25
Bill Soules, Senator, District 37
New York
Environment New York
Physicians for Social Responsibility, New York Chapter
Renewable Energy Long Island
North Carolina
David Gantt, Chairman, Buncombe County Commission
Darrell Jackson, City Council Member, Kannapolis
Clean Air Carolina
William Jensen, Council Member, Apex
William Fowler, Council Member, Surf City
Bernadette Pelissier, County Commissioner, Orange County
Environment North Carolina
Etsil S. Mason, Mayor, Farmville
Daniel Tuman, Mayor, North Topsail Beach
John F. Grimes, Mayor, Siler City
NC Conservation Network
NC WARN
Michael Schlink, Town Council Member, Morrisville
Ohio
Environment Ohio
Oregon
Douglas County Global Warming Coalition
Environment Oregon
Southern Oregon Climate Action Now
The Environmental Center
Pennsylvania
Clean Air Council
Northwest PA Green Economy Taskforce
Penn Environment
Rhode Island
Environment Rhode Island
Texas
Alfonso “Poncho” Nevárez, Representative, District 74
Axium Solar
Michael Osborne, Chair, Electric Utility Commission of Austin
David Carr, Dean, Frank Phillips College
Environment Texas
Shelley W. Penrod, Prof. of Biology, Lone Star College – North Harris
Sylvester Turner, Representative, House District 139
Texas Drought Project
Roland Gutierrez, Texas State Representative, District 119
Jessica Farrar, Texas State Representative, District 148
The Wind Coalition
Vermont
Vermont Conservation Voters
Virginia
Environment Virginia
TerraScapes
Washington
Erica Pickett, Anacortes City Council
Jan Shuette, Arlington City Council
Artisan Electric
Conrad Lee, Council Member, Bellevue
Mark Phillips, Council Member, City of Lake Forest Park
Jesse Salomon, Council Member, Shoreline
James Scott, Covington City Council
Kathleeen Huckabay, Deputy Mayor of Sammamish
Dan Grausz, Deputy Mayor, Mercer Island
Jason Walker, Duvall City Council
Diane Buckshnis, Edmonds City Council
Nancy Lillquist, Ellensburg City Council
Environment Washington
Martin Moore, Federal Way City Council
Louis Wolfom, Fife City Council
Forecast Solar LLC
Nigel Herbig, Kenmore City Council
Dennis Higgins, Kent City Council Member
Shelby Kloba, Kirkland City Council
Joe Valenzuela, La Center City Council
MaryLee Chamberlain, La Conner Town Council
Barbara Tolbert, Mayor of Arlington
Amy Walen, Mayor of Kirkland
John Culp, Mayor of Okanogan
Shari Winstead, Mayor of Shoreline
Matt Larson, Mayor of Snoqualmie
Pete Kmet, Mayor of Tumwater
Denise McCluskley, Mayor of University Place
John Marchione, Mayor, City of Redmond
Itek Energy
NW Wind and Solar
Northwest SEED
Puget Sound Solar
John Palmer, Puyallup City Council
John Hopkins, Puyallup Deputy Mayor
Genaveve Starr, Sequim City Council
Doris McConnell, Shoreline City Council
Chris Roberts, Shoreline City Council
Sierra Club, Washington Chapter
Snoqualmie Falls Brewing Company
SunModo Corporation
Ben Stuckart, Spokane City Council
Lyle Katzenmeyer, Starbuck City Council
Ryan Mello, Tacoma City Council
Nicole Hill, Tumwater City Council
Wisconsin
Physicians for Social Responsibility, Wisconsin Chapter
RENEW Wisconsin
Wisconsin Environment