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The US House of Representatives passed H.R. 6049 earlier this year, which includes the extension of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Production Tax Credits (PTC). Today, the Senate voted overwhelmingly for the renewable energy tax credit extensions, with a 93-2 approval of an amended version of H.R. 6049. The Senate-passed bill includes a one-year PTC extension for wind, two-year extensions for solar, marine, biomass and other technologies, as well as extensions of investment tax credits for renewable energy, new Clean Renewable Energy Bonds, and energy efficiency tax incentives. The bills also include a biodiesel Production Tax Credit, and establishment of tax incentives for cellulosic biofuels property.
Both bills go beyond renewable energy, and cover coal technologies and expansion of oil drilling. It also includes an Alternative Minimum Tax patch and research and experimentation tax credits for manufacturing. These issues are difficult and controversial, and will probably not be resolved in the few days that are left in this year’s legislative calendar. However, there is a very good chance that the renewable energy PTC provisions in the legislations can be passed this week. All that Congress needs to do now is to conference the Senate and House versions of HR 6049 and send the final bill to the President before adjournment. The White House has expressed support for the provisions included in Senate amendments to H.R. 6049.
We urge State Alliance members to call and/or email your senators and representatives as soon as possible and tell them to work with each other and the Senate and House leadership to finalize the renewable energy tax package, based on the Senate bill provisions, and send it to the President in the next week.
From Bart Ruth
Legislative Subcommittee Chair
25x’25 Steering Committee
http://www.25x25.org
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