Last week, amidst the debate on the financial crisis we took a giant step forward towards a sustainable and secure energy future. In the Senate we passed and the President signed into law a landmark package of clean energy tax policies. And for the first time in history we took away some of the subsidies from oil and gas companies to pay for them.
This was not an easy victory. The Democrats only have a one vote majority and it takes 60 votes these days to get anything passed in the Senate. While the final vote was overwhelming, getting it passed required breaking a Republican filibuster that had defeated eight previous clean energy bills. I knew this legislation was too important to get caught in partisan crosshairs. So I reached across the aisle and crafted a package with Senator Ensign that would win broad support. I listened to my House colleagues to understand what they would support. The vote was 93-2 in the Senate.
I am writing to say thank you so much for your continued support, this is a victory for all of us and it was a long time coming. I could not have waged this battle without you. And for families and business budgets that continue to be crushed by high costs help is on its way.
The terrific thing about this legislation is that it gives long term predictability to the efficiency and renewable industry so they can build plants in America. It will allow them to get to large scale deployment resulting in bringing costs down. It covers a wide range of technologies and really unleashes the full power of solar.
Here are some of the highlights of the legislation:
The only question is whether Congress continues to have the will to make it happen.
The energy package we passed is a significant step in the right direction - but it is the first step. Over the coming months we are going to need to work together to make sure it is not the only step. I hope that I'll be able to have your support as we fight some difficult battles ahead.
Thanks again for all your help. I'll be in touch soon.
Sincerely,
Maria Cantwell
This was not an easy victory. The Democrats only have a one vote majority and it takes 60 votes these days to get anything passed in the Senate. While the final vote was overwhelming, getting it passed required breaking a Republican filibuster that had defeated eight previous clean energy bills. I knew this legislation was too important to get caught in partisan crosshairs. So I reached across the aisle and crafted a package with Senator Ensign that would win broad support. I listened to my House colleagues to understand what they would support. The vote was 93-2 in the Senate.
I am writing to say thank you so much for your continued support, this is a victory for all of us and it was a long time coming. I could not have waged this battle without you. And for families and business budgets that continue to be crushed by high costs help is on its way.
The terrific thing about this legislation is that it gives long term predictability to the efficiency and renewable industry so they can build plants in America. It will allow them to get to large scale deployment resulting in bringing costs down. It covers a wide range of technologies and really unleashes the full power of solar.
Here are some of the highlights of the legislation:
- Provides a credit for every kilowatt of electricity generated from renewable sources such as wind, biomass, geothermal, and incremental hydropower for a ten year period for facilities placed in service by end of 2009.
- Provides eight years of investment tax credits for solar energy and fuel cells, which will spur a $232 billion investment in solar
- Provides over $10,000 worth of tax incentives to encourage consumers to make their homes and cars more efficient and lower their energy bills; includes giving $7500 to the first 250,000 people who buy a plug-in electric car and paying for 30% of full cost of residential solar.
- Over 500,000 clean energy, good paying jobs throughout America are expected to be created as a result of this legislation. And there is no time when we needed these more than now.
The only question is whether Congress continues to have the will to make it happen.
The energy package we passed is a significant step in the right direction - but it is the first step. Over the coming months we are going to need to work together to make sure it is not the only step. I hope that I'll be able to have your support as we fight some difficult battles ahead.
Thanks again for all your help. I'll be in touch soon.
Sincerely,
Maria Cantwell
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