For the first time in more than a decade, Congress is on the verge of passing comprehensive legislation that would significantly boost the production of clean, domestic, renewable energy. So far, the focus has been on what the energy bill will do for oil, natural gas, coal and nuclear energy. Little attention has been given to how the bill will encourage greater renewable energy production, energy efficiency, and the use of alternative and renewable transportation fuels. The American public deserves to know the full story.

Our organizations represent the industries that produce the vast bulk of the nation’s renewable energy – solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower and biofuels. All of these energy sources reduce pollution and global warming emissions, contribute to energy security and stand to benefit if Congress passes a bill when they return to Washington in January.

Year after year, national public opinion polls show that approximately 75 percent of Americans support increased use of renewable energy and fuel efficiency standards as our best energy alternatives. Yet, Congress has failed year after year to muster the political will to implement the desires of America’s citizens. But now, Congress is on the verge of translating that strong public support into vigorous public policy. The energy bill that sits before Congress provides the main ingredients to stimulate the needed growth in this vital sector of our energy economy.

The energy legislation contains a wide variety of programs, initiatives, tax credits and other policies for the production and consumption of renewable energy and for greater energy efficiency. Some examples include:

• Extension and expansion of production tax credits and important policy measures that will encourage new renewable energy growth and better preserve our existing renewable energy supply by improving licensing and permitting procedures.

• Residential tax credits for wind and solar technologies (including wind energy, photovoltaic, and solar water heating devices; high-efficiency electric heat pump, hot water heaters; and geothermal heat pumps) – some of the first residential renewable energy credits in a generation.

• Tax credits for the purchase of new automobiles powered by a fuel cell, hybrid, or other alternative fuel, as well as credits for the installation of energy-efficient appliances and other devices in new homes.

• Tax deductions for the use of energy efficiency technologies in commercial properties and a 20 percent business tax credit for purchase of qualified fuel cell power plants.

• A 5 billion gallon Renewable Fuels Standard to ensure the increased use of renewable transportation fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel.

• Increased research and development funding for emerging energy technologies, conservation programs and efficiency projects, including those in low-income rural and urban areas.

• More than $300 million annually to purchase solar systems for federal, state and local government buildings, plus $150 million for other small onsite renewable systems.

Recognizing that the federal government is the nation’s largest energy consumer, the bill requires government agencies to expand their use of renewable energy and improve energy efficiency. By 2011, federal agencies will be required to purchase 7.5 percent of their power from renewable energy resources. Moreover, the federal government will be required to purchase energy efficient products and improve its overall energy efficiency by 20 percent in the next decade.

This bill will improve reliability; reduce consumer costs; encourage investment in renewable energy; improve air quality; enhance U.S. energy security; reduce dependence on foreign energy sources; promote a more energy-efficient America; and bring jobs to renewable energy and energy efficiency industries.

Simply put, the comprehensive energy legislation before Congress does more to increase the production and use of domestically produced renewable energy than any previous government action.

Congress needs to pass this important legislation – now.

Robert Dinneen is executive director of the Renewable Fuels Association. He was joined in this article by Linda Church Ciocci, executive director of National Hydropower Association; Karl Gawell, executive director of Geothermal Energy Association; Glenn Hamer, executive director of Solar Energy Industries Association; and Randall Swisher, executive director of American Wind Energy Association.

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