>This message is from Senator Grassley about progress on the energy tax
>package.  It's real progress to have a Senator emailing you back!

Peggy Murdock

>Knowing of your concerns regarding our nation's energy policy, I thought
>you would be interested to know that last night, the Senate Finance
>Committee approved an energy tax package to be included in a
>comprehensive national energy plan.  I am pleased to report that the
>package includes a number of alternative energy initiatives that I have
>championed throughout my career in the Senate, including:
>
>         Wind Energy.  The bill includes my legislation to extend the
>production tax credit for energy generated by wind for five years.
>         Biomass.  The bill includes my legislation to extend the production
>tax credit for energy generated from biomass for five years.  It also
>expands the definition of biomass to include saw dust, tree trimmings,
>agricultural byproducts, and untreated construction debris.
>         Biodiesel.  The bill provides an income tax credit and excise tax
>reduction for biodiesel fuel mixtures.  Biodiesel is a clean-burning
>alternative fuel made from domestic renewable sources, such as soybean
>oil.
>         Small Ethanol Producer Tax Credit.  The bill would encourage the
>production of ethanol by ensuring that small, farmer-owned cooperatives
>that produce ethanol receive the same tax treatment as large companies.
>         Energy Efficient Appliances.  The bill includes my legislation to
>establish a tax credit to encourage the manufacture and use of super
>energy-efficient washing machines and refrigerators.
>         Swine and Bovine Waste.  The bill includes my legislation to create a
>production tax credit for electricity produced from swine and bovine
>waste.  By using an anaerobic digester or a similar system, a farmer can
>produce, capture, and burn methane gas to generate electricity. This
>technology can also reduce or nearly eliminate offensive odors from the
>animal waste, reduce pollution from agricultural runoff, and produce a
>higher quality fertilizer.
>
>The bill also includes provisions to encourage the production and use of
>alternative fuel vehicles, solar energy, and geothermal heat pumps.
>Expanded use of alternative and renewable energy is good for our
>environment and reduces our dependence on foreign sources of limited
>natural resources.  As the ranking member of the Finance Committee, the
>committee which has jurisdiction over our nation's tax policy, you can
>be sure that I will continue my work to ensure that our nation's tax
>policy promotes alternative and renewable sources of energy.
>

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