WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Green Energy Provisions in the Ways and Means Proposal Garner Widespread Support

Sep 27, 2021

Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC-The Ways and Means Committee advanced historic clean energy tax provisions that would combat the threat of climate change and incentivize the use of green energy technologies as part of the Committee's portionof the Build Back Better Act. Specifically, the proposal extends current green energy tax credits, invests in clean domestic manufacturing, incentivizes the use of electric vehicles and builds the charging infrastructure needed for electrification, and supports the creation of green, good-paying jobs. According to nonpartisan, independent experts, the investments in the Build Back Better Act have the potential to cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to nearly 1 billion tons in 2030, which is the equivalent to zeroing out annual emissions from Texas and Florida combined.

Here's what key stakeholders are saying:

Alliance to Save Energy:

"The Alliance to Save Energy commends the committee for its consideration of key tax provisions that would incentivize energy efficiency investments for homeowners, homebuilders, and commercial building owners. These incentives can lead homeowners and others to choose more efficient products and services while also driving efficiency across the built environment, and this week's markup was an important step forward in reforming these incentives to meet the environmental and economic challenges of the day. This is particularly true for the Section 25C provision, which would be a significant change from current law and would allow homeowners to budget and plan multiple energy efficiency investments over several years. We look forward to our continued work with the committee as these proposals progress on Capitol Hill." - Paula Glover, President

American Clean Power Association:

"The House Ways and Means Committee markup of the clean energy tax provisions in the Build Back Better Act represents another critical step forward for the domestic clean energy economy. The provisions in this legislation will enable the continued rapid deployment of renewable energy projects along with energy storage and transmission upgrades to help our nation address the climate crisis and create good-paying clean energy jobs. We will continue working with Congress to ensure the current legislation accelerates, and does not hinder, clean energy deployment and ensure businesses can plan for the long-term helping our nation build for the future."- Heather Zichal, CEO

The American Council on Renewable Energy:

"The Ways and Means Committee is rising to the challenge of the code red on climate change that scientists warned us about last month. The stable, predictable and long-term clean energy tax platform in the Ways and Means reconciliation package will go a long way toward decarbonizing the power grid, which is key to accelerating the transition to a net-zero emissions economy. We commend Chairman Neal, Chairman Thompson and the Committee for their leadership and look forward to working with policymakers in both chambers of Congress to get scientifically driven climate legislation across the finish line this year. As part of that process, we will be offering further implementation refinements to ensure this legislation achieves its mission-critical objective."- Gregory Wetstone, President and CEO

Breakthrough Energy:

"Breakthrough Energy applauds your leadership in developing and passing a historic clean energy tax package that will support scaling up the next generation of clean technologies in the United States and set us on the path to achieve 2030 emissions reduction goals as well as net-zero emissions by 2050. Especially meaningful is the inclusion of credits for emerging technologies like clean hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuel, and clean manufacturing, as well as grid investments in transmission and energy storage, all critical technologies to achieve economy-wide deep decarbonization. It will take decades to build out and scale up these solutions, which are necessary to avoid a climate disaster, and we cannot afford to delay action any further. Additionally, a strong framework of clean energy tax credits will help create jobs, build new clean industries, and strengthen America's competitiveness in the global economy…Thank you, once more, for your efforts and we stand ready to support you in the drive to pass this legislation."- Mike Boots, Executive Vice President

The Business Council for Sustainable Energy:

"Yesterday, the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce advanced key measures for America's clean energy future. Among the important actions are extensions of clean energy and energy efficiency tax credits into the 2030s. This means projects with longer development cycles will be able to move forward with more certainty. The bill also expands eligible technologies in a number of important areas and provides "direct pay," easing the ability to utilize the credits. The tax policies are complemented by many clean energy and energy efficiency related provisions coming out of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce's mark-up. Clean energy and energy efficiency policies provide strong benefits to homeowners, consumers and businesses, encouraging them to invest in best-in-class technologies and can help create millions of good paying U.S. jobs. The actions in the House this week mark important steps to support an equitable, reliable and sustainable energy transition. BCSE looks forward to sharing its feedback on the legislation and working with Congress and the Biden Administration as they continue to develop the reconciliation legislation." - Lisa Jacobson, President

The Center for American Progress:

"The House Ways and Means Committee's bold action meets the climate test-putting us on a clear path to reduce emissions 50 percent by 2030, as scientists say is necessary. This bill makes innovative investments that will help America thrive, including 10 years of full-value tax credits to clean energy companies, with maximum flexibility and direct pay, as well as help for people buying electric cars and trucks. These investments will also support more unionized jobs in the clean energy industry. With this transformational bill, we can cut climate pollution in half in the next decade, create new incentives for clean energy, invest in disadvantaged communities, and transition the power sector to protect our climate."- Christy Goldfuss, senior vice president for Energy and Environment Policy

Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA):

"EDTA appreciates the vision and efforts of Congress to advance electric transportation. To effectively accelerate the transition to electric transportation in the time frame necessary to address the threats of climate change, however, updated electric vehicle and infrastructure credits need to provide broadly accessible incentives for diverse consumers to grow markets. In the electric drive ecosystem, these markets include light, medium, heavy duty and two- and three-wheeled vehicles and electric drive infrastructure. We appreciate the long-term extension to the alternative fuel vehicle refueling property credit, and updates including additional value for electric transportation investments, additional flexibility for eligible property with contactless payments and a direct pay option, that will speed the proliferation of electric and hydrogen fueling facilities. We look forward to continuing to work with Congress to ensure that this credit's eligibility requirements are optimized to drive charging station deployment effectively and without undue administrative burden. EDTA is committed to our shared effort with Congress to advance a robust U.S. marketplace that promotes the growth of a domestic supply chain, creates employment all over the country and provides public benefits in every community." - Genevieve Cullen, President

Environmental Defense Fund:

"We are encouraged by Chairman Neal and the Ways and Means Committee's plan to drive investments in clean energy and transportation. Extending and expanding a wide range of incentives for renewable energy technologies, energy storage, electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, energy efficiency, and other technologies that reduce carbon emissions will help us make significant progress on climate action, and drive economic and job growth in the process. We thank Chairman Neal for his leadership." - Elizabeth Gore, Senior Vice President, Political Affairs

The League of Conservation Voters (LCV):

"Thank you to Chairman Neal, Subcommittee Chairman Thompson, and other champions for this package of ten year, full value, flexible clean energy tax incentives that is a huge and essential part of reducing emissions across the electricity, transportation, manufacturing, and building sectors. This tax package could get Congress almost halfway to meeting the Climate Test and doing their part to reduce emissions 50% by 2030 -- the goal that President Biden set and science and justice require. Critically, Ways and Means' portion of the Build Back Better Act also directs investments for solar development in low-income communities, makes new and used electric vehicles more accessible to all consumers, and provides investments to programs researching and addressing environmental justice, all while supporting the creation of good paying jobs here in the U.S. The Ways and Means Committee has made great progress and we look forward to the committee debating, further improving, and marking up this section to reduce emissions and advance justice and jobs even further."-Matthew Davis, Senior Director of Government Affairs

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):

"This tax measure will provide crucial clean energy investments, putting our nation on the path to addressing the climate crisis. It will help families afford zero-emitting vehicles, rooftop solar, and efficiency upgrades for their homes. And, with the inclusion of labor standards, it will enable businesses to create good jobs by investing in renewable energy, an upgraded electric grid, and vehicle charging stations. Importantly, lawmakers are encouraging investments in low-income and disadvantaged communities that have suffered the most from toxic pollution. While this bill makes the tax code more progressive and cuts some fossil fuel subsidies, there is more the Senate must do to hold polluters accountable. It's time to end a century of handouts to the oil and gas industry - and invest in a clean future."- John Bowman, managing director for government affairs

Sierra Club:

"We applaud House leaders for their remarkable progress in crafting an historic budget reconciliation package that advances bold investments in climate, jobs and justice. The tax package will serve as a major driver of climate action and clean energy deployment at a scale that can truly transform the way we power our economy--our homes, buildings and transportation sector--while protecting public health by cleaning up our air and water. Alongside other provisions of the reconciliation bill, it will help put our country on a path to meet President Biden's climate action goals of 80% clean electricity and 50% economy-wide carbon emissions reductions by 2030, while delivering at least 40% of the investments to disadvantaged communities."- Melinda Pierce, Legislative Director

Solar Energy Industries Association:

"The House Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce Committees have done important work in advancing legislation to tackle the climate crisis. These energy proposals, including a long-term extension of the solar Investment Tax Credit with direct pay, a storage ITC, and focus on equity and access to clean solar energy, among other proposals, will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create hundreds of thousands of American jobs in solar alone and jumpstart hundreds of billions of dollars in private investment. The path to enactment is still a long one. We look forward to working with members of the House, the Senate and the Biden administration on final legislation that decarbonizes the power sector and builds a clean energy economy that serves all Americans for decades to come."- Abigail Ross Hopper, President and CEO

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