AWEA - Statement by Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Associations/Organizations

The renewable energy and energy efficiency trade associations and organizations stress the urgent need for the passage of comprehensive climate and energy legislation to provide the framework and stability that businesses need to invest in manufacturing facilities, create jobs, and maintain our nation’s competitiveness in the global energy sector.

On clean energy policy, the legislation should contain, at a minimum, the following elements:

* a strong renewable electricity standard (RES) and Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS):
* sensible and effective transmission policies;
* targets and funding for strengthened building energy codes and compliance, and enhanced appliance efficiency standards;
* a building efficiency information disclosure program; and
* an extension of the convertible tax credit provision in ARRA, and incentives for residential, commercial, and industrial retrofits.

Time is not on America’s side and we risk losing American jobs if we fail to pass legislation that provides the hard targets needed to strengthen our industries.

A recent national poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies and Bennett, Petts & Normington, a bipartisan team of pollsters, showed that 67% of the American people think Congress is focusing too little on increasing renewable energy sources and 56% disapprove of the job members of Congress are doing on renewable energy. The same poll showed that 77% of Americans support a strong RES, with strong support extending across party lines to 65% of Republicans, 69% of Independents, and 92% of Democrats. At the same time, Lawrence Berkley Laboratories released a report showing more than 100,000 jobs have been created under the convertible tax credit in just the last nine months. We remain committed to achieving comprehensive legislation and stand ready to work with the U.S. Senate on a bill that includes the important renewable energy and energy efficiency voters want.

Voters from all parties support these policies because they recognize that more renewable energy and energy efficiency will immediately lower emissions, strengthen our energy security, and protect against wild spikes in the price of electricity.

Alliance to Save Energy
American Wind Energy Association
Biomass Power Association
Business Council for Sustainable Energy
Geothermal Energy Association
National Hydropower Association
Solar Energy Industries Association

Contacts:
Alliance to Save Energy
Ronnie Kweller, (202) 530-2203
www.ase.org

American Wind Energy Association
Deb Preitkis-Jones, (202) 580-6459
www.awea.org

Biomass Power Association
Bill Riggs, (202) 429-4929
www.BiomassPowerAssociation.com

Business Council for Sustainable Energy
Laura Tierney, (202) 785-0507
http://www.bcse.org

Geothermal Energy Association
Garret Drexler, (646) 695-7042
www.geo-energy.org

National Hydropower Association
Jeff Leahey, (202) 682-1700
www.hydro.org

Solar Energy Industries Association
Monique Hanis, (202) 682-0556, ext. 4
www.seia.org

For more information please contact Trevor Sievert at ts@windfair.net