The letter, copied below, was sent to all members of the Senate today as a followup to the President’s call to action on energy. It also comes in advance of the Senate Democrats’ scheduled Thursday meeting, where clean energy legislation is expected to be a focus.
The coalition letter urges the Senate to move quickly with legislation promoting energy efficiency, renewable energy and biofuels. The coalition-backed policies will add millions of new, American jobs, protect our environment, and make the United States more energy independent and secure.
The members of the coalition include: the Alliance to Save Energy, the American Wind Energy Association, the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, the Biomass Power Association, Growth Energy, the Energy Recovery Council, the Geothermal Energy Association, the National Hydropower Association, and the Solar Energy Industries Association.
The letter states:
We urge that the Senate move quickly to consider legislation promoting energy efficiency, renewable energy generation, and biofuels, along with associated manufacturing opportunities. Such a policy would add millions of American jobs and utilize our own domestic, clean, inexhaustible, and rapidly deployable resources. Acting now will stimulate construction and operations jobs as well as manufacturing and supply chains, rather than passively losing these jobs to other countries.
A series of inconsistent and unstable policies have cost America its leadership in renewable energy and energy efficiency manufacturing and production. Attracting manufacturing will take a concerted effort, as evidenced by the actions being taken by our competitors, but America’s workforce, skills, and market are well suited for global leadership if stable policies are put in place. Important programs affecting renewable energy industries, energy efficiency initiatives and biofuels programs are all due to expire this year. Many of the jobs these industries support could be lost permanently to other countries. Many renewable manufacturers have almost ceased receiving orders because of the uncertainty of a long term policy.
Enacting policy now is urgent. Ensuring steady growth of the industries that will solve our climate, water, and waste challenges will be a critical way to address not only near-term employment challenges but our long-term environmental and energy security goals. Renewable energy, energy efficiency, and biofuels can make a significant down payment on carbon pollution targets. These sources are rapidly deployable today, immediately producing jobs, energy security, and environmental benefits.
The time has come for Congress to enact legislation providing long-term support for energy efficiency, renewable energy and biofuels. It is essential for American jobs, our national security, and the environment.
New Energy Coalition Calls for Passage of Clean Energy Bill
Let America’s Energy Future Start Today
What:
On the heels of President Obama’s June 15 speech calling for clean energy legislation, a coalition of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and biofuels organizations urges the U.S. Senate to adopt comprehensive energy legislation that will create millions of American jobs and maximize the use of our own domestic, clean and abundant energy resources.
Who:
Alliance to Save Energy
American Wind Energy Association
Biomass Power Association
Business Council for Sustainable Energy
Energy Recovery Council
Geothermal Energy Association
Growth Energy
National Hydropower Association
Solar Energy Industries Association
When:
Thursday, June 17, 2010: 11am ET
Where:
Conference Call-in (800) 895.1085
Conference ID: 7WIND
Why:
Jobs, jobs, jobs! A series of inconsistent and unstable policies have cost America its leadership in renewable energy and energy efficiency manufacturing and production. Attracting manufacturing will take a concerted effort, as evidenced by the actions being taken by our competitors, but America’s workforce, skills, and market are well suited for global leadership if stable policies are put in place. Important programs affecting renewable energy industries, energy efficiency initiatives and biofuels programs are all due to expire this year. Many of the jobs these industries support could be lost permanently to other countries. Many renewable manufacturers have almost ceased receiving orders because of the uncertainty of a long term policy.
The Alliance to Save Energy is a coalition of prominent business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit consumers, the environment, the economy, and national security.
AWEA is the national trade association of America’s wind industry, with more than 2,500 member companies, including global leaders in wind power and energy development, wind turbine manufacturing, component and service suppliers, and the world’s largest wind power trade show. AWEA is the voice of wind energy in the U.S., promoting renewable energy to power a cleaner, stronger America. Look up information on wind energy at the AWEA Web site. Find insight on industry issues at AWEA’s blog Into the Wind.
The Business Council for Sustainable Energy is an industry coalition that includes businesses and trade associations representing a suite of currently available technology options for strengthening domestic energy security while also reducing emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change. These technologies include: advanced batteries, biomass, biogas, fuel cells, geothermal, hydropower (including conventional and new waterpower resources such as ocean, tidal and in stream hydrokinetic), solar (including solar energy equipment such as solar hot water heating and solar light pipe technology), wind, natural gas, and supply-side and demand-side energy efficiency.
The Biomass Power Association is the nation’s leading organization working to increase the use of clean, renewable biomass power and create new jobs and opportunities in the biomass industry. BPA represents over 100 biomass power facilities in 20 different states. As policymakers at every level explore ways to lower greenhouse gases and reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil, BPA is the leading advocate at the state and federal level for a strong commitment to clean, renewable biomass energy. Members include local owners and operators of existing biomass facilities, suppliers, plant developers and others all across the U.S.
The Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) is a trade association composed of U.S. companies who support the expanded use of geothermal energy and are developing geothermal Resources worldwide for electrical power generation and direct-heat uses. GEA advocates for public policies that will promote the development and utilization of geothermal Resources, provides a forum for the industry to discuss issues and problems, encourages research and development to improve geothermal technologies, presents industry views to governmental organizations, provides assistance for the export of geothermal goods and services, compiles statistical data about the geothermal industry, and conducts education and outreach projects.
The Energy Recovery Council is the national trade association representing the companies and municipalities that provide waste-to-energy services in the United States. Waste-to-energy facilities produce clean, renewable energy through the combustion of municipal solid waste in specially designed power plants equipped with the most modern pollution control equipment.
Growth Energy is a group committed to the promise of agriculture and growing America’s economy through cleaner, greener energy. Growth Energy members recognize America needs a new ethanol approach. Through smart policy reform and a proactive grassroots campaign, Growth Energy promotes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding the use of ethanol in gasoline, decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, and creating American jobs at home.
The National Hydropower Association (NHA) is a nonprofit national association dedicated exclusively to advancing the interests of the hydropower industry, including new waterpower technologies – conduit power, and ocean, tidal and instream hydrokinetics. It seeks to secure hydropower’s place as a climate-friendly, renewable and reliable energy source that serves national environmental and energy policy objectives.
Established in 1974, the Solar Energy Industries Association is the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry. As the voice of the industry, SEIA works with its 1,000 member companies to make solar a mainstream and significant energy source by expanding markets, removing market barriers, strengthening the industry and educating the public on the benefits of solar energy.
