Western Governors call for Swift, Decisive Action on Energy Independence and Security Act (12/6/07)

Western Governors call for Swift, Decisive Action on Energy Independence and Security Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 6, 2007
Contact: Kevin Moran, 202-624-5402

DENVER -- The Western Governors' Association today praised House and Senate leaders for their leadership in crafting an energy bill and urged Congress to âact quickly and decisively to approve the federal tax incentives and other provisions included in the Energy Independence and Security Act.

Signing the letter on behalf of the colleagues were Govs. Dave Freudenthal (Wyo.), WGA Chairman, and Jon M. Huntsman (Utah), WGA Vice Chairman. The letter was sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Republican Leader John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

The text of the letter follows:

Dear Representatives Pelosi and Boehner and Senators Reid and McConnell:

On behalf of the Western Governors' Association we are writing to thank you for your leadership in crafting the Energy Independence and Security Act. We want to lend our collective, bipartisan voice in favor of the House's effort to improve the nation's energy future by extending federal tax credits and take other actions to promote domestic clean and renewable energy technologies.

We strongly believe that a clean, diverse, reliable, and affordable energy supply that moves us toward greater energy security is among the highest of our nation's priorities. To that end we need coordinated action at all levels of government in order to succeed. As Governors we have been actively implementing and advocating for clean energy policies in our own states. We are also cooperating at a regional level. However, we still need a significant commitment from the federal government to continue to make progress.

We support at least the following federal actions. Individual Governors may have additional recommendations.

• a ten-year extension of the existing production tax credit for all renewable electricity technologies;
• a ten-year extension of the investment tax credit for solar technologies as described in S. 590 and H.R. 550;
• a modification of the solar photovoltaic residential investment tax credit to allow a credit of $1,500 per half kilowatt of installed capacity as described in S. 590 and H.R. 550;
• a ten-year extension of tax incentives for all innovative energy efficiency technologies;
• a significant increase in the current Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle tax credit;
• a significant extension and increase of the cap on clean energy bonding authority for public power and for tribes;
• funding for construction of multiple near-zero emissions coal facilities in the West that use a variety of technologies and Western coal in order to evaluate the cost and environmental characteristics of those facilities;
• an accelerated timetable, with sufficient funding, to complete carbon sequestration research, including development of regulatory requirements to address liability;
• an increase in vehicle fuel economy standards; and
• expanded diversity and production of domestically produced biofuels.

We urge Congress to act quickly and decisively to approve the federal tax incentives and other provisions included in the Energy Independence and Security Act. We stand ready to lend whatever support you may need to get these provisions signed into law.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

The Western Governors' Association is an independent, nonprofit organization representing the governors of 19 states and three U.S.-Flag islands in the Pacific. Through their Association, the Western governors identify and address key policy and governance issues in natural resources, the environment, human services, economic development, international relations and public management.

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