New Energy Future News

“At a time when Pennsylvanians are struggling with high energy prices, Senator Arlen Specter unfortunately chose today to join with other Senate Republicans in blocking a crucial package of clean energy tax incentives that would have reduced energy costs, curbed global warming pollution and helped shift our country to a new energy future. 

Most notably for Pennsylvania, the rejected legislation (S. 3335, the Jobs, Energy, Families, and Disaster Relief Act of 2008), would have extended tax incentives for the advancement of clean renewable energy sources such as wind and solar energy—clean energy sources whose industries have been bringing hundreds of new jobs to Pennsylvania in recent years.  And by diversifying our energy mix and reducing our dependence on coal, natural gas and oil, these clean energy technologies would help to reduce Pennsylvanians’ energy costs, to say nothing of their critical role in the effort to tackle global warming. 

As one of the fastest growing industries in Pennsylvania, the clean energy industry is a shining light in an otherwise lackluster national economy. Unfortunately, the renewable energy production tax credit and the solar investment tax credit are set to expire at the end of this year and investors are already beginning to pull out of projects.  According to a recent study by Navigant Consulting, the Senate’s failure to extend the renewable energy tax incentives places at risk 116,000 jobs in the wind and solar industries nationwide and more than $19 billion in clean energy investments.

Today’s rejected legislation also contained new incentives for plug-in electric hybrid vehicles that are capable of achieving 100 miles per gallon.  If all vehicles were plug-in electric hybrids, we could reduce our oil consumption by 55%, nearly eliminating oil imports.  At today’s gasoline prices, the average American driver would save $1500 a year in fuel costs by switching to a plug-in hybrid.

Finally, the bill would have extended incentives for money-saving energy efficiency measures, including tax credits for weatherizing homes and purchasing more efficient appliances. 

Pennsylvanians realize that there has never been a more important time to jump start a clean energy economy, but Sen. Specter and his Senate colleagues seem to think otherwise.  PennEnvironment is extremely disappointed that Sen. Specter and his colleagues failed to take even this most basic step towards promoting a new energy future for Pennsylvania, which would have helped to protect our environment and grow our economy.”