Call US Senators to Support Renewables

Dear Tree Member,

If you haven't been following our efforts to pass critical renewable energy and energy efficiency tax incentives, please let me know. It is critical that we get 60 votes on the floor for the economic stimulus package and we need Republican votes. Both Roberts and Brownback have supported renewable energy and energy efficiency incentives in the past. Brownback even signed a letter with 32 other Senators in support but voted against the Economic Stimulus Package that included these incentives in Finance Committee markup last night.

This effort to pass the clean energy incentives in the economic stimulus package is part of a longer-term effort to win support for renewable energy and energy efficiency. If we do not win tonight, the urgency or our effort will hopefully ensure that the clean energy provisions are passed as soon as possible this year.

TAKE ACTION:
Call your Senator TODAY! Ask him/her to support tax incentives for renewable energy and energy efficiency!

Senator Pat Roberts
D.C. - P: (202) 224-4774

Senator Sam Brownback
D.C. - P: (202) 224-6521

SAMPLE PHONE SCRIPT:
Hi. My name is [NAME] from [CITY/TOWN]. I urge Senator [NAME] to support clean energy and energy efficiency tax incentives in the economic stimulus package. This package is an opportunity to provide a boost to clean energy companies and consumers right now that will create and retain green jobs and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

Renewable energy tax incentives are urgently needed to maintain the robust growth of renewable energy investment and production and will stimulate local economies. The industry needs an extension of these important incentives beyond 2008.

If you can't make a call, take action here:
https://secure2.convio.net/sierra/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=537

MORE INFO:

Senate Stimulus Plan to Include Green Jobs, Energy Provisions
Renewables Tax Incentives Key to Thousands of Jobs, Strong Growth

Washington, D.C.--After a bipartisan push by more than 40 Senators, the Senate Finance Committee has included key green jobs and renewable energy incentives in its version of the economic stimulus package.* The $5.5 billion package includes short-term extensions of key renewable energy tax incentives due to expire at the end of 2008--including the Production Tax Credit (PTC), Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for solar, clean energy bonds, and other measures designed to promote energy efficiency. After being approved 14 to 7 in today’s Finance Committee markup, the package is headed for a final vote on the Senate floor as soon as possible.

A recent study by the Blue-Green Alliance shows that a strong investment in renewable energy could create over 820,000 new jobs and bring billions in economic growth. More information can be found at www.sierraclub.org/bluegreenjobs.
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BACKGROUND

*Senators who have expressed support for the inclusion of the renewable energy incentives include: Cantwell, Snowe, Wyden, Smith, Klobuchar, Kerry, Sununu, Sanders, Dole, Boxer, Johnson, Allard, Salazar, Mikulski, Stabenow, Murray, Dorgan, Brown, Bayh, Clinton, Collins, Specter, Menendez, Thune, Feingold, Dodd, Levin, Obama, Brownback, Coleman, Murkowski, Feinstein, Schumer, Stevens, Lautenberg, Leahy, Akaka, Kohl, Roberts, Grassley, Bingaman, and Domenici.

Two concrete examples of renewable energy creating jobs:

Games and Pennsylvania--Many areas of Pennsylvania have been decimated by the collapse of the steel industry. Gamesa, a wind turbine company, has invested tens of millions of dollars in three factories in Pennsylvania, beginning in Fairless Hills. These factories provide hundreds of Pennsylvanians with good-paying, union jobs.

Maytag and Iowa--After being bought by a competitor, Maytag’s headquarters and factory in Newton, Iowa were shuttered in December--costing the small Iowa town some 1,800 jobs. TPI Composites of Rhode Island announced in November that by June it will open factory to manufacture wind turbine blades for GE. This investment will create 500 jobs and help supply the Midwest with wind turbines--creating local tax revenues and investment, providing farmers across the Midwest with the opportunity to receive thousands in annual income for each turbine on their land, and delivering clean, renewable energy to millions of consumers.