To boost economy, boost renewables
Last year Congress made great progress toward a new energy future by passing an Environment New Mexico-backed increase in gas mileage standards—the first such increase in 30 years. But much work still remains to be done to achieve the new energy future that our country needs.
Unfortunately, power plant owners and coal interests, aided by Sen. Pete Domenici and other Republican leaders in the Senate and the White House, blocked attempts to pass a renewable electricity standard as part of a package of clean energy tax incentives in the energy bill passed last year.
The next avenue for action is to convince Congress to extend existing renewable energy tax incentives, which expire at the end of 2008. The American Wind Energy Association predicts that failing to extend the tax credits could cost the U.S. economy 75,000 jobs and a wealth of investment opportunities.
“As one of the fastest-growing industries in the United States, the clean energy industry is a shining light in an otherwise lackluster economy. If Congress does not act, many promising renewable energy projects will screech to a halt,” said Environment New Mexico Advocate Lauren Ketcham.
