Press Release: Solar Energy Industries Association® (SEIA)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A broad coalition of energy groups and their member companies are joining forces to hold over 100 meetings with members of Congress and staff from both parties about the critical role of clean energy tax credits for supporting a robust American energy and manufacturing economy. Participating groups represent over 2,000 companies and hundreds of billions of dollars in private investment.
As part of the lobbying blitz, more than 1,850 clean energy companies are also sending letters to Congress expressing the economic importance of clean energy tax credits and urging lawmakers to preserve these incentives. The solar industry letter can be found here, and the business leaders letter can be found here.
Federal energy incentives are fueling a surge in domestic clean energy manufacturing that is reducing U.S. reliance on foreign adversaries and supporting American workers. These policies are driving hundreds of billions of dollars of investments into energy projects that are supplying the grid with low-cost, reliable power amidst the largest increase in energy demand since World War II.
Without federal clean energy tax credits, clean energy deployment would fall by 237 GW over the next 15 years, according to Aurora Energy Research. This is enough power to supply 36 million homes.
In the last two years, 70-80% of all federal clean energy investments have flowed to Republican districts, and 90% of all those investments are in the manufacturing sector.
“Solar can be built faster and cheaper than almost any technology, and it’s clear that we can’t meet our nation’s energy challenges or President Trump’s energy vision without a robust American solar and storage industry,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). “With support from federal clean energy policies, American solar manufacturers can now produce enough modules to meet all demand for solar in the United States. It’s critical that our elected leaders understand the impact of these policies and the jobs and investments they bring to their constituents.”
“Hydropower is essential to an energy dominant America, but the aging fleet must be preserved and expanded to ensure our industry can provide reliable baseload power to communities across America,” said Malcolm Woolf, President and CEO of the National Hydropower Association. “That’s why the NHA is strongly advocating for federal tax incentives to empower our asset owners to upgrade the existing fleet to meet 21st century energy challenges. This includes preserving the technology neutral tax credit that encourages repowering of the existing fleet, as well as much-needed credits for environmental and dam safety investments. Hydropower is well-positioned to create a strong energy future, but our leaders must give it the attention it deserves.”
“Businesses across America right now are just breaking ground or finalizing plans for hundreds of factories and projects that will manufacture the solar panels, batteries and other Made-in-America equipment and deploy the energy we need to meet the exploding demand for electricity across the economy,” said Bob Keefe, executive director of the national nonpartisan business group E2. “Now’s not the time to undermine the federal policies driving this economic boom and the hundreds of thousands of jobs it’s creating. Now’s the time for Congress to keep the investments and opportunities flowing to the folks back home, while also making America competitive again in the global marketplace.”
“Energy tax incentives have a proven track record of increasing U.S. power sector investment and creating good-paying American jobs,” said Lisa Jacobson, president of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE). “With energy demand rising, these provisions are critical to developing homegrown energy generation that will power U.S. manufacturing and keep the lights on for homes and businesses. We look forward to connecting our broad portfolio of energy businesses with policymakers to demonstrate the role of these energy tax incentives in driving a vibrant, competitive, and sustainable U.S. economy.”
“Federal energy tax credits are doing exactly what they were designed to do—creating jobs, strengthening our domestic supply chain, and bolstering U.S. energy security,” said Andrew Reagan, president of Clean Energy for America. “These investments are delivering affordable, reliable power while creating hundreds of thousands of jobs in communities across the country. Our energy future relies on preserving policy certainty to ensure Americans have access to affordable, reliable energy while creating good-paying jobs that strengthen our economy.”
“Energy incentives not only benefit manufacturing, but also translate into real opportunities and savings for people and businesses,” said Peter Templeton, president and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council. “The current buildings-related energy and energy efficiency tax incentives drive billions of dollars in building upgrades and construction activity, spurring job creation across the building trades and suppliers. Moreover, these incentives help increase energy reliability and reduce energy costs for home and building owners. The federal clean energy tax credits are direct investments in good jobs, reliable energy, lower costs of housing, and thriving American communities.”
“Energy tax credits are helping enable more than $25 billion in American offshore wind supply chain investments and thousands of American manufacturing and shipbuilding jobs,” said Liz Burdock, president and CEO of Oceantic Network. “Commercial-scale offshore wind projects under development today will provide power to millions of households and help meet rising energy needs in the face of a national energy emergency. We must act to secure these jobs and investments in our Gulf shipyards, Midwestern steel mills, and ports along our coastlines, advance our energy security and independence, and unleash the full portfolio of American-made energy.”
Organizations with member companies participating in the lobbying blitz include the Solar Energy Industries Association, National Hydropower Association, Oceantic Network, Climate Power, U.S. Green Building Council, Clean Energy for America, E2, Business Council for Sustainable Energy, Impact Capital Managers, and dozens of utilities and businesses across the energy sector.
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About SEIA®:
The Solar Energy Industries Association® (SEIA) is leading the transformation to a clean energy economy, creating the framework for solar to achieve 30% of U.S. electricity generation by 2030. SEIA works with its 1,000 member companies and other strategic partners to fight for policies that create jobs in every community and shape fair market rules that promote competition and the growth of reliable, low-cost solar power. Founded in 1974, SEIA is the national trade association for the solar and solar + storage industries, building a comprehensive vision for the Solar+ Decade through research, education and advocacy. Visit SEIA online at www.seia.org and follow @SEIA on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.
Media Contacts:
Morgan Lyons, Senior Director of Communications, SEIA ([email protected])
Copeland Tucker, Director of Public Affairs, NHA ([email protected])
Michael Timberlake, Communications Director, E2 ([email protected])
Lizzie Stricklin, Communications Manager, BCSE ([email protected])
Alyssa Cortes, Communications Director, Clean Energy for America ([email protected])
Deisy Verdinez, PR and Communications Director, U.S. Green Building Council ([email protected])
Melinda Skea, VP of Public Affairs, Oceantic Network ([email protected])
