SOLAR WANTS TAX CREDITS, EXTENSIONS FROM CONGRESS

NewEnergyNews suspected that rigid opposition from Republicans and splits among Democrats might require New Energy lobbyists to move away from talking about a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES). In a possible sign of the times, this solar energy lobbying group says nothing about the RES and calls instead for tax credit extensions.

Vote Solar: “You’ve heard the old saw about laws, sausages, and the benefit of ignorance in the making thereof? Well then, consider yourself forewarned, because the effort to craft the biggest solar bill in US history is sausage-making at its finest…"

NewEnergyNews thinks they mean sausage-making at its worst.

The Homestretch on the Federal Solar Bill
October 23, 2007 (The Vote Solar Initiative)

WHO
The Vote Solar Initiative, a non-profit organization dedicated to advocacy on behalf of solar energy

JP Ross, Adam Browning and David Hochschild of Vote Solar.

WHAT
Vote Solar is organizing political action in support of investment tax credit (ITC) extensions and other tax incentives in the energy legislation now pending before the House and Senate.

WHEN
Differences in previous energy bills passed by the Senate in June and the House in July are right now being reconciled by congressional leaders. Now is when the decisions are being made. Now is the time voters can have input.

From Vote Solar: One of the keys to solar energy's success is achieving the production volume at which installations become affordable. (click to enlarge)

WHERE
- Vote Solar was born in San Francisco in 2001. It lives there and on the internet.
- This poltical action pertains to national legislation pending in Washignton, D.C. At the Vote Solar web site, there are also actions pertaining to other legislation.

WHY
- These are the measures Vote Solar is for:
(1) 8-year extension of the 30% business investment tax credit (ITC) (in both the House and Senate bills);
(2) 6-year extension of the residential ITC (in the Senate bill);
(3) Eliminate the $2,000 limit on residential solar ITCs (in the House version);
(4) Allow corporate and individual taxpayers to claim ITCs against the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) (in the House version).

Come Senators, Congressmen, please heed the call...

QUOTES
Vote Solar: “This would be the largest, most important solar legislation ever undertaken in the US. Take action here to send a message to Congress.”