BCSE Cheers Energy Bill Passage; Urges Speedy Conference Process

4/25/2002

From: Sharon Singh of BCSE, 202-785-0507

WASHINGTON, April 25 -- The Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) congratulated the U.S. Senate for passing an energy bill that was passed late this evening. This legislation begins the process of weaning the U.S. from imported fuels to domestic sources including natural gas, renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Some of the aspects of the bill passed include:

-- Loan guarantees and expedited approval for an Alaska natural gas pipeline

-- Tax incentives for new energy-efficient home and business construction

-- Consumer tax credits for new qualified fuel cell and hybrid vehicles

-- Manufacturers' tax credits for energy-efficient washers and refrigerators that will be passed onto the buying customers

-- Grants for state weatherization assistance programs

-- Funding for clean and efficient energy research and development programs

-- Ten percent of electricity generated by utilities must be from renewable energy resources by 2020 and;

-- Access for clean energy users to sell excess energy to local electricity utilities.

"This bill is the tip of the iceberg of where we need to go and what we need to do for our domestic energy future. Tax incentives for clean energy technologies, services and products encourage the energy industry to be innovative and profitable while providing consumers additional choices at affordable prices," stated Michael Marvin, President of the BCSE.

As one of the leading broad-based clean energy business groups, the BCSE work toward economic and environmental clean energy objectives at the domestic and global levels.

"We know that this legislation along with the House version and the Administration's energy strategy do not address all the questions, such as tax incentives for the solar industry; however small, this is a step towards energy self-sufficiency. The Council urges the Senate and House conference committee to quickly bring this legislation to the President for his signature. We've waited long enough," added Marvin.

The Business Council for Sustainable Energy advocates policies that promote economic, environmental and energy independence objectives, both within the U.S. and internationally. It stands for implementation of cost-effective programs and policies that recognize the environmental attributes of various energy sources, technological responses to environmental issues and reduced reliance on imported fossil fuels.