Providing for Consideration of H.R. 6049, Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, over the next few years the renewable energy industry in the United States is poised to create hundreds of thousands of family wage jobs. But none of it will happen, and in fact we will lose jobs if we don't extend the investment and production tax credits for new energy technologies.

As someone who spent my entire career in the wind industry, I know firsthand how critical these credits are to increasing renewable energy use and production. These incentives helped to turn wind power into a viable and growing energy option.

Just last week, the Department of Energy released a report estimating that wind could provide 20 percent of our Nation's energy by 2030. Renewable energy is now competitive with conventional power.

I recently hosted a meeting in my district with the heads of solar and wind energy companies to discuss the potential for employment in the renewable sector. It's clear, with the right Federal incentives, the industry will flourish, and we could see the creation of half a million new energy technology jobs in just the next few years.

There's also a flip side. When the production and investment tax credits lapse, there's a devastating consequence for the renewable energy industry. For instance, the last time we didn't extend the production tax credit, the wind industry lost thousands of good paying, green energy jobs all across our country.

That's why today's legislation is so important. If we are serious about weaning ourselves off foreign oil, we need to pass the production and investment tax credits today.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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