Important U.S. Renewable Energy Incentive Package Still Stalled in Senate
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 07.30.08
photo: Getty Images
A month ago we wrote how an important piece of renewable energy legislation was stalled in Congress. As of this afternoon, it is still stalled.
Only Nine More Votes Needed to Move Bill Forward
The bill, which needed 60 votes to move forward, only garnered 51 votes of support, with 43 opposed. What has been, at least temporarily, set aside by lawmakers is an eight-year extension of renewable energy production tax credits, tax credits for development of carbon capture and storage technologies, as well as a one-year extension of production tax credits for certain biofuels.
As would be expected, the renewable energy industry has decried the inaction. The American Wind Energy Association has said, “With 116,000 jobs and nearly $19 billion in investment at risk the renewable energy industries, the US Senate today again failed to muster the votes necessary to extend tax credits for the wind and solar industries.”
Reuters though points out that the bill is not dead, as it can again get brought to a vote— though there is no word on when this might happen.
Predictable Renewables Policy Key to Steady Investment
Predictable renewable energy policy, especially in the area of government incentives, is one of the key factors in the remarkable growth of the industry in the past few years. This is especially so in Europe, where generous feed-in tariffs have allowed the industry to prosper at little cost to consumers. The cost to the public of Germany’s EEG law is approximately €2 per month extra on the electric bill for a family of three.
Already, some renewable energy developers have warned that they may be forced to reconsider US projects if these production tax credits are not extended.
via :: Reuters
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This is complete crazyness, another example of how corrupt these politicians are...special interest above the people !
Always amazes me how much governments talk about supporting renewable energy and then this type of stuff happens. Here in Australia, our government has spat in the face of the solar industry by limiting the grid connect solar power rebates to those earning under 100k a year - basically hamstrung many operators in the solar industry over here; not to mention keeping clean, green power out of the affordability range of many.
imagine thaaaaat
our congress doing nothing but having there collective thumbs up there rears
Any chance we can get a link to the legislation and the registry of who voted (and their votes)?
It makes it easier to harass my corresponding elected official when I know whether or not they're properly pandering to me, and being at work I don't have time to rifle through the senate websites that are, suffice it to say, not the most straightforward things to navigate.
I'm willing to bet that BOTH of the fine gentlemen from Alabama were in the opposed column. They BOTH voted against raising fuel economy standards and BOTH responded poorly when I e-mailed them about renewable energy.
Well, at least the market speaks somewhat...we are producing fewer Hyundai SUV's & Mercedes SUV's here in Alabama as well as fewer Toyota V-8 engines.