Multi-Sector Coalition Urges Congress to Include Support For Clean Energy and Clean Transportation in Must-Pass Legislation This Year

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a letter delivered to U.S. House and Senate leadership today, 45 organizations and companies spanning the environmental, conservation, clean energy, public health and faith communities are urging support for clean energy and clean transportation in must-pass legislation this year.

The organizations write: “Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the clean energy sector was projected to add 175,000 jobs in 2020, but heading into the new year, roughly 450,000 clean energy workers – 13% of the sector’s pre-COVID workforce – are still out of work. This is being felt all over the country, with 42 states suffering from double-digit job losses in the clean energy sector relative to pre-COVID levels. These are good jobs that paid 25% more than the national median wage in 2019. In addition to reviving jobs, support for clean energy improves the overall health of the economy as it leverages private capital and saves consumers money in difficult times. It is also vital to America’s global competitiveness and energy independence.”

The multi-sector coalition is requesting Congress:

  • Extend tax incentives for wind and solar projects
  • Modernize the tax incentives for commercial and residential energy efficiency improvements
  • Make the production tax credit and investment tax credit available at full value for offshore wind
  • Make grid-enhancing technologies, such as energy storage and high voltage transmission, eligible for these tax incentives as stand-alone technologies
  • Extend the tax credit for alternative fuel infrastructure (30C) and revive the tax credit for domestic clean energy manufacturing (48C)
  • Extend and modify the EV tax credit to ensure broad consumer accessibility
  • Provide a direct pay option for each of these credits to maximize their utilization by the broadest range of stakeholders

The letter was signed by Advanced Energy Economy, Alliance to Save Energy, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, American Council on Renewable Energy, American Wind Energy Association, Business Network for Offshore Wind, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Citizens Climate Lobby, E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs), Earth Justice, Energy Storage Association, Environment America, Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Working Group, EV Drive Coalition, Franciscan Action Network, Fresh Energy, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Institute for Market Transformation, Interfaith Power & Light, Interwest Energy Alliance, League of Conservation Voters, Maryknoll Sisters Eastern Region USA, Moms Clean Air Force, National Association of State Energy Officials, National Audubon Society, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Wildlife Federation, Natural Resources Defense Council, Northeast Clean Energy Council, Public Citizen, Sierra Club, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team, Solar Energy Industries Association, Solar United Neighbors, Sunrise Movement, The Climate Reality Project, The Evangelical Environmental Network, U.S. Green Building Council, U.S. Public Interest Research Group, Union for Reformed Judaism, Union of Concerned Scientists, Voices for Progress, Vote Solar, World Wildlife Fund.

Click here to download a copy of the coalition letter.

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About ACORE:
Founded in 2001, the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is the nation’s premier pan-renewable organization uniting finance, policy and technology to accelerate the transition to a renewable energy economy. For more information, please visit www.acore.org.

About AEE:
Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) is a national association of businesses that are making the energy we use secure, clean, and affordable. Advanced energy encompasses a broad range of products and services that constitute the best available technologies for meeting energy needs today and tomorrow. AEE’s mission is to transform public policy to enable rapid growth of advanced energy businesses. Engaged at the federal level and more than a dozen states around the country, AEE represents more than 100 companies in the $238 billion U.S. advanced energy industry, which employs 3.6 million U.S. workers. AEE’s PowerSuite online platform allows users to track regulatory and legislative issues in state legislatures, U.S. Congress, state PUCs, RTOs/ISOs, and FERC. Follow us @AEEnet.

About AWEA:

AWEA is the national trade association for the U.S. wind industry, the largest source of renewable energy in the country. We represent 1,000 member companies, 120,000 jobs in the U.S. economy, and a nationwide workforce located across all 50 states. AWEA serves as a powerful voice for how wind works for America. Members include global leaders in wind power and energy development, turbine manufacturing, and component and service suppliers. They gather each year at the Western Hemisphere’s most efficient and targeted event for utility-scale renewable companies, the AWEA CLEANPOWER Conference & Exhibition, next in Indianapolis, June 7-10, 2021. An outgrowth of the AWEA WINDPOWER Conference & Exhibition, CLEANPOWER is the first trade show focused exclusively on the utility-scale renewable power sector, bringing together all the major developers, utilities, OEMs, suppliers, and buyers under one roof. Visit AWEA’s website to learn more about the enormous economic benefits wind power brings to America and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

About SEIA®: 

The Solar Energy Industries Association® (SEIA) is leading the transformation to a clean energy economy, creating the framework for solar to achieve 20% of U.S. electricity generation by 2030. SEIA works with its 1,000 member companies and other strategic partners to fight for policies that create jobs in every community and shape fair market rules that promote competition and the growth of reliable, low-cost solar power. Founded in 1974, SEIA is a national trade association building a comprehensive vision for the Solar+ Decade through research, education and advocacy. Visit SEIA online at www.seia.org.

About UCS:

The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet’s most pressing problems. Joining with people across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.

Media Contacts:

Alex Hobson, ACORE
hobson@acore.org | (202) 594-0706

Monique Hanis, AEE

mhanis@aee.net | (202) 236-8220

Sam Brock, AWEA

press@awea.org | (202) 341-1332

Anna Vecchio, NWF

VecchioA@nwf.org | (202) 797-6662

Morgan Lyons, SEIA

mlyons@seia.org | (202) 556-2872

Ashanti Washington, UCS

awashington@ucsusa.org | (202) 710-6946