Energy Policy
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As you may know, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an energy bill last week (H.R.6) that among many other things raises mpg standards for cars (to 35 mpg by 2020), extends and raises the tax credits for residential solar energy (thru 2014, and to $4k from $2k), and eliminates tax breaks for oil companies (currently $13.5 billion - that’s $13.5 thousand million, for our readers who speak U.K./European English).
The bill is currently being debated by the Senate, which may reject all or portions of it, and the President may also use his veto powers. If you are a U.S. voter, please send a quick note to your elected representatives to let them know your views on the matter.
To write in support of H.R.6, click here.
To write in opposition to H.R. 6, click here.
For anyone who’s interested, the President yesterday signed into law the version of the bill that was approved by the Senate, which took out the parts that would have eliminated the tax breaks for oil companies, citing concerns that fuel prices would rise as a result. Unfortunately, that also meant eliminating the credits for alternative energy, which apparently, the way the bill was written, would have been funded by the higher taxes on oil companies. Hopefully they can be funded via a different method in future legislation.
Still, even as passed, this could be a landmark that finally shifts America’s status quo on oil dependence and global warming.