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Coalition Supports Tax Legislation to Advance Renewable Energy

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We are writing to convey our strong support for clean, renewable and domestic energy production. Accordingly, we urge you to support efforts in the Senate to approve energy tax legislation that will help promote the production and use of renewable and advanced energy technologies and fuel sources.</p>

Dear Senator:

We are writing to convey our strong support for clean, renewable and domestic energy production. Accordingly, we urge you to support efforts in the Senate to approve energy tax legislation that will help promote the production and use of renewable and advanced energy technologies and fuel sources.

The Senate Finance Committee on a bipartisan basis approved the Energy Advancement and Investment Act of 2007 on June 19, 2007. Senators Max Baucus (D-MT) and Charles Grassley (R-IA) subsequently offered the contents of this package as an amendment to H.R. 6, the energy bill recently approved by the Senate. Unfortunately, the Baucus/Grassley amendment failed to garner the votes necessary to invoke cloture, and thus, was not included in the energy bill approved by the Senate.

Finance Committee Chairman Baucus and Ranking Member Grassley have long been advocates of clean and renewable energy. The Energy Advancement and Investment Act approved by the Finance Committee contains provisions that are vital to the growth and stability of our industries and will help to transform the United States into a world leader in renewable and clean energy technologies such as biodiesel, biomass, cellulosic and corn ethanol, mass-market solar and fuel cells, combined heat and power, ocean renewable, geothermal, wind and hydro, among others. Producing more renewable energy at home will not only help family farmers and businesses in the short-term, but will also spur major new long-term investments that will allow economies of scale to bring down the cost of domestic clean energy supplies while creating quality, high-technology jobs.

As organizations representing America’s renewables sector, we are in complete agreement that comprehensive energy legislation must have a meaningful tax title that addresses the needs of clean and advanced energy technology industries that are working to increase domestic energy production and reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil. Though there are provisions in the legislation that some of our industries would like to see strengthened or improved as the legislative process moves forward, we all strongly agree the Senate should work to approve tax legislation that promotes renewable energy.

We ask that you support future efforts by Chairman Baucus and Ranking Member Grassley to move energy tax legislation through the Senate. By supporting this effort, you will be playing a key role in the effort to promote environmentally friendly renewable energy that will help improve America’s energy independence.

Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Solar Energy Industries Association
National Biodiesel Board
National Hydropower Association
USA Biomass
Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition
National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition
Biotechnology Industry Organization
Business Council for Sustainable Energy
Geothermal Energy Association
US Fuel Cell Council
US Combined Heat & Power Association
Cellulosic Biofuel Working Group
American Wind Energy Association
Ethanol Producers And Consumers
Methanol Institute
American Farm Bureau Federation
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
National Corn Growers Association