Alternative Power

Congress has renewed the solar and wind tax credits as part of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act.

 

During the months leading up to the Act, Americans for Clean Energy (News - Alert) (ACE) brought together thousands of members to make Congress aware of their desire for green jobs and a more secure energy future for the U.S.

 

Leading up to the Act, thousands of ACE members joined a Facebook (News - Alert) Group created by ACE, and made more than 20,000 calls to Capitol Hill. This effort marks one of the first and largest political mobilizations using Facebook and social media.

 

"Renewing solar and wind tax credits will lead directly to thousands of good paying green jobs across the country,” stated Jack Hidary, chairman of ACE. "We are also pleased that Congress has included a tax credit for plug-in electric vehicles. Our dependence on oil continues to grow and the adoption of plug-in vehicles is critical to achieving energy independence for America."

 

"We mobilized thousands of members of our group using Facebook and other technologies," said Steve Boyd, executive director of ACE. "Our members called in to Congress at key points over the past several months to let our representatives know how important this issue is to them."

 

"By extending the solar credit for eight years, Congress has finally given the private sector the right signal - it is time to invest in renewable energy," explained Josh Becker, co-founder and board member of ACE. "Solar manufacturing companies, as an example, have been reluctant to build out manufacturing plants in the U.S. without a long-term market signal. Now they have one."

 

Signed into law last week, the Stabilization Act provides for an 8-year extension of the investment tax credit (ITC) for solar energy. With this 8-year extension, solar manufacturers will for the first time be able to confidently invest in job creating operations in the U.S.

 

Besides the solar tax credit, the package also includes a 1-year extension of the producer tax credit (PTC) for wind energy. In the next session, ACE members will ask Congress to extend the wind tax credit.

Americans for Clean Energy is a bipartisan organization focused on renewable energy and clean technology. Americans for Clean Energy supports the increased adoption of solar, wind and other renewable energy sources, as well as clean transportation solutions. Americans for Clean Energy uses its Facebook group and fan page and other technologies to organize thousands of members.