Contact your Senators TODAY and urge them to pass HR 6049, the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008 and extend vital energy tax provisions.
Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008
July 10, 2008
Dear Solar Supporter,
Yesterday the Senate passed the Medicare "Doc Fix" bill, breaking a long standing filibuster. This breakthrough was the result of a highly energized grassroots effort by medical professionals across the country.
Grassroots pressure by the solar community can produce the same result, but time is running out.
Next week another vote is planned for HR 6049 which extends the federal solar tax incentives currently set to expire at the end of this year. Together, we can win this vote.
ASES, in partnership with SEIA, is asking you to contact your Senators TODAY and urge them to pass HR 6049, the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008 and extend vital energy tax provisions. This will be one of our last opportunities this Congress for a long-term extension of the investment tax credit (ITC).
Click here to locate your Senators' Washington phone number and type in your zip code. Alternatively, you can reach your Senators' offices through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-225-3121.
Below are some helpful talking points:
- Not extending solar credits is an enormous tax increase that will cost American jobs and worsen our already struggling economy.
- Current federal tax credits that provide incentives to spur the growth of solar energy are set to expire at the end of the year. Without the credits the solar energy industry will lose 39,400 jobs and $8 billion in investments (Source: Navigant Consulting).
- Any day now the Senate will have an opportunity to extend the commercial and residential solar tax credits. Time is running out to find a bi-partisan compromise. Both sides must redouble their efforts to prevent the loss of additional jobs in our faltering economy. It is time to finally get the job done.
Don't let Congress pull the plug on solar. Please forward this email to your colleagues, family, friends, and others who support solar.
With sincere thanks,
Brad Collins
Executive Director,
American Solar Energy Society
PS. For additional guidance please see the information below.
BILL PROVISIONS: Currently pending in the US Senate is the Baucus Substitute to HR 6049, the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008. The solar tax provisions in the legislation are:
- Eight-year extension of the residential and commercial 30% ITC under Sections 25D and 48;
- Eligibility for both corporate and individual taxpayers to claim the ITC against the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT);
- Waiver of the public utility exception to the ITC (i.e., permits investor-owned utilities to directly claim the ITC); and,
- Doubling of the existing $2,000 maximum dollar limitation on the residential credit to $4,000.
Learn more about the real world job and investment loss without an extension of the ITC >>
PHONE SCRIPT:
"My name is _____ and I am calling from (state and/or organization affiliation, position and location). I am calling to stress to Senator XX the urgency of immediately renewing the expiring Clean Energy Tax Incentives.
Every day that passes without an extension places more American jobs at risk. Already clean energy projects in the U.S. are being put on hold while overseas growth in jobs and the manufacturing of equipment is surging overseas.
[If possible, add local, personal antidote about negative economic impact of the tax incentives expiring].
We are running out of time. Please ask Senator XX to do everything possible to pass bi-partisan legislation to extend the Clean Energy Tax Incentives before the August Recess.
Thank you for listening to my concerns and sharing them with Senator XX."
“This legislation will help Long Island businesses and other businesses throughout the state become eligible for the same advantages residential customers already enjoy,” - Governor David A. Paterson.
From LIPA News center
Uniondale- NY- June 20th, 2008
LIPA Poised to Become First Utility in State to Launch Commercial Net Metering to Encourage More Use of Solar Energy
LIPA President Law commends Governor Paterson and State Legislature for passing bill to authorize net metering changes statewide
The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) is amending its electric service tariff to further encourage the use of solar generating resources and will become the first utility in the state to make commercial net metering available to commercial customers.
Under the proposed changes, LIPA will introduce new tariff provisions to allow for net metering of energy for commercial customers who install solar generating equipment at their facilities and would expand existing tariff eligibility provisions for net metering to residential customers as well.
LIPA's tariff will conform largely to the legislation spearheaded by Long Island lawmakers Senator Owen J. Johnson and Assemblyman Steve Englebright that recently passed both houses of the Legislature and that authorizes utilities to implement these changes statewide.
Read more >>
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