FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 10, 2008                                       CONTACT: Josh Dorner, 202.675.2384                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Sierra Club Cheers Senate Action on                                        Clean Energy Economic Stimulus Measure                                    Bipartisan Senate Majority Votes to Extend                                     Key Renewable Energy Tax Incentives                                                                                                                                                                              Washington, D.C.—Today the Senate voted by a margin of 88 to 8 to attach    the Cantwell-Ensign Clean Energy Tax Stimulus Act (S.2821) to the housing   legislation currently being considered by the Senate.  The Cantwell-Ensign  legislation would put into place short-term extensions of key renewable     energy tax incentives currently in danger of expiring at the end of 2008,   including the Production Tax Credit and Investment Tax Credit.  After       final passage by the Senate the housing legislation will move to House for  consideration.                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Statement of Melinda Pierce, Assoc. Director of National Campaigns, Sierra                                     Club                                                                                                                                                                                             "The Senate’s action today recognizes the urgency of the situation and      underscores the strong, bipartisan support for extending these crucial tax  incentives.  It is essential that Congress finalizes an extension of these  critically important incentives for the wind and solar industries           immediately.  Failing to extend them immediately will deal a crippling      blow to the rapidly growing clean energy economy.                                                                                                                                                                                   "Failing to extend these incentives would not only dim a bright clean       energy future, it would snuff out one of the few bright spots in these      grim economic times. As news broke just this week that the economy has      shed nearly 250,000 jobs in the first quarter alone, it is clear that we    cannot afford to stifle the renewable energy industry.  Projects are        already in danger of being canceled and over 100,000 hardworking Americans  in the wind and solar industries alone could be thrown out of work if       Congress doesn’t act soon.                                                                                                                                                                                                          "We already know that making a serious commitment to clean, renewable       energy could fuel tens of billions of dollars in economic growth and        create over 820,000 new manufacturing jobs across the country.  We also     know that achieving these goals will be impossible unless we extend the     current incentives without delay in order to avoid turning today’s green    energy boom into tomorrow’s clean energy bust, as has happened each and     every time Congress has let these tax incentives expire in years past.                                                                                                                                                              "It would be difficult for taxpayers to find an investment that offers a    better return.  This package of incentives will pay us environmental and    economic dividends for years to come.                                                                                                                                                                                               "We are extremely pleased that the Senate acted so decisively today.  The   House has approved similar packages of clean energy incentives on numerous  occasions over the past few months and we will continue to work with our    allies on that side of the Capitol to bring this important measure across   the finish line as soon as possible."                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 # # #  
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