BUSINESS, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS URGE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY TAX PROVISIONS

In a letter sent today to the leadership of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 23 member groups of the Sustainable Energy Coalition called upon Members of Congress to work in a bipartisan fashion to enact "tax provisions promoting renewable energy ... without further delay."

WASHINGTON DC -- In a letter sent today to the leadership of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 23 member groups of the Sustainable Energy Coalition called upon Members of Congress to work in a bipartisan fashion to enact "tax provisions promoting renewable energy ... without further delay."


Noting "the overarching importance of energy issues today - at gas pumps, pipelines, power lines, power plants, and overseas," the letter's signers stressed that "with every month that passes without adoption of energy tax legislation, the renewables industry faces increasing uncertainty and disincentives to further investment."

Furthermore, "the Congressional debates on this issue indicate that there is strong bipartisan support for expanding renewable energy production.
Nevertheless, tax provisions crucial to the renewables sector, such as the Production Tax Credit, have been delayed."

The full text of the letter and list of signers follows

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The Sustainable Energy Coalition is a coalition of over 90 national and state business, environmental, consumer, and energy policy organizations which collectively represent several thousand companies and community-based groups. Founded in 1992, the Sustainable Energy Coalition works to promote increased use of energy efficient and renewable energy technologies.

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SUSTAINABLE ENERGY COALITION
1612 "K" Street, NW, Suite 202-A
Washington, D.C. 20006
202-293-2898, EXT.201


June 14, 2004

The Honorable Bill Frist
Senate Majority Leader

The Honorable Tom Daschle
Senate Democratic Leader

The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert
Speaker of the House

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
House Democratic Leader

Dear Senators Frist and Daschle and Representatives Hastert and Pelosi:

We are writing this letter to ask for your support for investment in renewable energy technologies before the end of this Congress. More specifically, tax provisions promoting renewable energy should be passed without further delay as they are critical to the health of the nation's renewable energy sector.

As electricity demand continues to rise, it is ever more urgent that the United States invest in domestic energy supplies that provide clean, reliable electricity to consumers. Domestic renewable technologies such as biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar and wind all need our nation's support at this crucial time. We strongly support bipartisan efforts to promote investment in this critically needed energy infrastructure. The overarching importance of energy issues today - at gas pumps, pipelines, power lines, power plants, and overseas - demonstrates the need for immediate Congressional action on renewable energy tax incentives. With every month that passes without adoption of energy tax legislation, the renewables industry faces increasing uncertainty and disincentives to further investment.

The Congressional debates on this issue indicate that there is strong bipartisan support for expanding renewable energy production. Nevertheless, tax provisions crucial to the renewables sector, such as the Production Tax Credit, have been delayed. We urge you to continue to work with all members of the Congress to enact legislation that achieves these goals as soon as possible.

Renewable energy technologies provide domestic, clean, reliable electricity.
In addition, the renewables industry provides significant job growth and creates other economic benefits. We thank you for your continued bipartisan support of these technologies and we urge you to enact renewable energy tax provisions to spur investment in this sector without delay.

Sincerely,

Micah Walker Parkin, Interim Executive Director Alliance for Affordable Energy

Genevieve Cullen, Co-Director
American Bioenergy Association

Randall Swisher, Executive Director
American Wind Energy Association

F. William Capp, President and CEO
Beacon Power Corporation

Michael Bergey, President
Bergey Windpower Co.

Bill Holmberg, Executive Director
Biomass Coordinating Council

Bob Lawrence, President
Bob Lawrence & Associates, Inc.

Jennifer A. Schafer, President
Cascade Associates

Douglas A. Durante, Executive Director
Clean Fuels Development Coalition

Jason Makansi, Executive Director
Energy Storage Council

Carol Werner, Executive Director
Environmental and Energy Study Institute

Karl Gawell, Executive Director
Geothermal Energy Association

Ted Clutter, Executive Director
Geothermal Resources Council

Dave Vander Griend, President & C.E.O.
ICM, Inc.

Mark A. Thomas, CEO/President
Independent Natural Resources, Inc

Mark Wenzler, Director, Global Warming and Energy Programs National Environmental Trust

Linda Church Ciocci, Executive Director
National Hydropower Association

Frances Beinecke, Executive Director
Natural Resources Defense Council

David Radcliff, Director
New Community Project

Edward Smeloff, Asst. General Manager, Power Policy San Francisco Public Utilities Commission

Scott Sklar, Executive Director
Solar Energy Industries Association

Marchant Wentworth, Washington Representative for Clean Energy Union of Concerned Scientists

Richard Blieden, Director of Government & International Sales United Solar Ovonic LLC

Brad N. Mondschein, Esq.
Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, P.C.

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