U.S. Representative
Shelley Berkley

 
Weekly Wrap-up

 
     
 
     
 

Berkley Says Yes To More Clean Energy Production

Package Will Create New Jobs; Spur Development of Solar, Wind, Geothermal Power

 

Calling the legislation good for Nevada, Congresswoman Shelley Berkley today (February 27, 2008) voted for new investments in clean, renewable energy production and increased energy efficiency.  Incentives included in The Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008 will help promote the development and use of more solar and geothermal energy in the Silver State and nationwide.  The legislation, which passed 236 – 182, provides federal incentives to clean energy producers by repealing billions in subsidies to oil and gas companies.    

 

“Clean energy is the future of Nevada and extending these tax incentives will encourage greater development of solar, geothermal and other forms of green power.  This legislation provides incentives for clean energy production and ends giveaways to big oil and gas producers at a time when these global giants are generating enormous profits,” said Berkley.  “This package is good for Nevada, good for businesses, good for the environment and a smart investment in our energy future.”

 

The new investments in wind, solar, geothermal and fuel cell technology will also create hundreds of thousands of new jobs and help strengthen the American economy. The Geothermal Energy Association estimates that the geothermal provisions alone could create tens of thousands of new jobs and stimulate tens of billions of dollars of new investment in geothermal energy production.

 

“Nevada is fast becoming a world leader in the use of solar energy and we have a tremendous opportunity to increase our use of geothermal power, both of which are eligible for incentives under this bill.  More solar and geothermal power will mean more jobs and new sources of green energy to power our homes and businesses.  Our bill also extends and expands tax incentives for renewable electricity, energy and fuel, as well as for plug-in hybrid cars, and energy efficient homes, buildings, and appliances.  All of which will add up to energy savings and a cleaner environment,” said Berkley.      

    

To pay for the renewable energy incentives, the bill includes narrowly targeted provisions repealing unnecessary tax subsidies and loopholes only for the large integrated oil companies.  The big five oil companies recently reported record profits in 2007.  Exxon Mobil earned $40.6 billion -- the largest corporate profit in American history.

H.R. 5351: Green Jobs and American Energy Independence

 

  • Provides $8 billion in long-term clean renewable energy tax incentives for electricity produced from renewable resources, including wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, hydropower, ocean tides, and landfill gas.

 

  • Includes $2 billion in new clean renewable energy bonds for electric cooperatives and public power providers to finance facilities that generate electricity from these renewable resources.  These provisions are critical to creating tens of thousands of jobs and planned renewable energy projects that could power electricity for up to 12 million homes [Source: America Council on Renewable Energy, 2/11/08].

 

  • Helps working families reduce their fuel bills by providing between $4,000 and $6,000 in tax credits toward the purchase of fuel-efficient, plug-in hybrid vehicles.

 

  • Helps state and local governments finance a variety of environmental conservation and efficiency programs by providing up to $3.6 billion in interest-free financing.

 

  • Provides tax incentives to help homeowners and businesses reduce their energy costs by investing in energy efficient property.  The bill would encourage manufacturers to build affordable appliances that push the boundaries of efficiency and help finance more energy efficiency improvements to homes and commercial buildings. 

 

 

 

House to Vote Wednesday on Clean Energy Package  Berkley Calls Bill Good for Nevada Extends Tax Incentives to Boost Production of Solar, Wind, Geothermal Power

 

On February 26, 2008 Congresswoman Shelley Berkley called for passage of legislation (H.R. 5351) which invests in clean, renewable energy and increased energy efficiency.  Incentives included in the package will help promote the development and use of more solar and geothermal energy in the Silver State.  The legislation increases federal incentives to clean energy producers by repealing billions in subsidies to oil and gas companies.    

 

“Clean energy is the future of Nevada and extending these incentives will encourage greater development of solar, geothermal and other forms of green power.  This legislation extends tax breaks for clean energy and for consumers to buy hybrid vehicles by eliminating giveaways to big oil and gas producers at a time when these global giants continue to make enormous profits,” said Berkley.  “This package is good for Nevada, good for businesses, good for the environment and a good investment in our energy future.”  

 

This legislation would reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil, increase renewable electricity production, and encourage greater energy efficiency.  It extends and expands tax incentives for renewable electricity, energy and fuel, as well as for plug-in hybrid cars, and energy efficient homes, buildings, and appliances.

 

Berkley noted that the incentives for green energy included in the bill are critical to existing workers and for the creation of good-paying green collar American jobs.  A recent study showed that allowing the renewable energy incentives to expire would lead to about 116,000 jobs being lost in the wind and solar industries through the end of 2009.  [Source: Economic Impact of Tax Credit Expiration – Final Report, Prepared for the American Wind Energy Association and the Solar Energy Industries Association, February 13, 2009]

 

To pay for the renewable energy incentives, the bill includes narrowly targeted provisions repealing unnecessary tax subsidies and loopholes only for the large integrated oil companies.  The big five oil companies recently reported record profits in 2007.  Exxon Mobil earned $40.6 billion -- the largest corporate profit in American history.

H.R. 5351: Green Jobs and American Energy Independence

 

  • Provides $8 billion in long-term clean renewable energy tax incentives for electricity produced from renewable resources, including wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, hydropower, ocean tides, and landfill gas.

 

  • Includes $2 billion in new clean renewable energy bonds for electric cooperatives and public power providers to finance facilities that generate electricity from these renewable resources.  These provisions are critical to creating tens of thousands of jobs and planned renewable energy projects that could power electricity for up to 12 million homes [Source: America Council on Renewable Energy, 2/11/08].

 

  • Helps working families reduce their fuel bills by providing between $4,000 and $6,000 in tax credits toward the purchase of fuel-efficient, plug-in hybrid vehicles.

 

  • Helps state and local governments finance a variety of environmental conservation and efficiency programs by providing up to $3.6 billion in interest-free financing.

 

  • Provides tax incentives to help homeowners and businesses reduce their energy costs by investing in energy efficient property.  The bill would encourage manufacturers to build affordable appliances that push the boundaries of efficiency and help finance more energy efficiency improvements to homes and commercial buildings. 

 

Support for the renewable energy & energy conservation tax act (H.R. 5351)

 

 

  • Abengoa Solar
  • Akeena Solar
  • Alliance to Save Energy
  • Ameresco
  • American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE)
  • American Institute of Architects
  • American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE)
  • American Public Power Association
  • American Rivers
  • American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc (ASHRAE)
  • American Wind Energy Association
  • Applied Materials
  • Apricus, Inc
  • Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM)
  • Audubon
  • Ausra, Inc.
  • Austin Energy
  • Ballard Power Systems
  • Best Buy Co., Inc.
  • BrightSource Energy
  • Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International
  • Business Council for Sustainable Energy
  • California Biodiesel Alliance
  • California Energy Commission
  • California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA)
  • CCIM Institute
  • Climate Master
  • Climate Solutions
  • Conenergy
  • Constellation Energy
  • The Dow Chemical Company
  • DuPont
  • Earthjustice
  • Energy Conversion Devices
  • Energy Innovations, Inc
  • Environment America
  • Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI)
  • Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC)
  • EPV Solar
  • Exelon Corporation
  • FHP Manufacturing Company
  • Florida Power & Light Company
  • Friends Committee on National    Legislation (FCNL)
  • Friends of the Earth
  • Fuel Cell Energy
  • Geothermal Energy Association
  • Great River Energy
  • Greenpeace
  • GridPoint
  • The Home Depot, Inc.
  • Hydrogenics
  • Institute of Real Estate Management
  • Insulating Concrete Form Association
  • International Council of Shopping Centers
  • Johnson Matthey
  • LOGANEnergy
  • Lowe’s Companies, Inc.
  • Macy’s Inc.
  • Millennium Cell, Inc.
  • Mitsubishi Electric and Electronics USA, Inc.
  • MMA Renewable Ventures
  • National Hydropower Association
  • National Association of Home Builders
  • National Association of Industrial Office Properties (NAIOP)
  • National Association of Realtors
  • National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)
  • National Farmers Union
  • National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
  • National Small Business Association
  • National Tribal Environmental Council
  • National Wildlife Federation
  • Natural Resources Defense Council
  • New Voice of Business
  • North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA)
  • Northeast Public Power Association
  • Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition
  • Oerlikon
  • Owens Corning  
  • PG&E Corporation
  • Physicians for Social Responsibility
  • Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA)
  • Plug Power, Inc.
  • PPG Industries
  • PPM Energy
  • Public Citizen
  • Q-Cells AG
  • The Real Estate Roundtable
  • REgrid Power
  • RekuOn
  • Retail Industry Leaders Association
  • Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)
  • Safeway, Inc.
  • Sanyo Energy (USA) Corporation
  • SCHOTT Solar, Inc.
  • Schuco USA LP
  • Sharp Solar
  • Sierra Club
  • SkyFuel
  • Soap and Detergent Association
  • Solar Energy Industries Association
  • Solar Integrated
  • Solar Millennium LLC
  • Solar Power, Inc
  • Solar World
  • SOLEC-Solar Energy Corporation
  • Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
  • Spire Solar, Inc.
  • Stark’s Inc.
  • SunEdison
  • SunPower Corporation
  • Suntech America, Inc
  • Target Corporation
  • Tranasolar
  • Trane
  • Union of Concerned Scientists
  • United Solar Ovonic
  • The United Steelworkers (USW)
  • United Technologies Corporation
  • USA Biomass
  • US Fuel Cell Council
  • The Vote Solar Initiative
  • Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
  • Waterfurnace International, Inc.
  • Wenigs Inc.
  • Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC)
  • Western Renewables Group
  • Whirlpool Corporation
  • Whole Foods Market, Inc
  • Will Wynn, Mayor of Austin Texas
  • Xcel Energy
  • Yahoo! Inc.

 

 

  
     
 
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