A Letter from US Senator Wayne Allard

Dear Jeremy:

Thank you for your recent letter concerning our nation's energy policy and use of renewable and alternative energy sources. I appreciate that you have taken the time to write.

Like you, I believe that we should try to increase our use of renewable energy sources. Solar, geothermal, biomass, hydro and wind power are attractive energy sources for the future and I believe we should continue to support research to perfect the technology and expand their use.

As you may know, today approximately 60% of all of our nation's oil is imported. The investments we make in renewable technology will enhance fuel choice, increase domestic production, reduce our trade deficit and insulate the U.S. from oil price shocks and threats from rogue nations. I am also a strong proponent of using alternative fuels such as biofuels, propane, natural gas, ethanol, methanol, and hydrogen; they are clean fuels and are largely free of the pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act.

You may be interested to know about some of my efforts on behalf of renewable energy. I am a founding member and currently the Co-Chair of the Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus. With over 1/3 of the Senate, the Caucus seeks to bring together industry representatives, the Administration and Congressional interests to discuss and promote the use, research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Additionally, I am a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 590, which if enacted, would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the investment tax credit with respect to solar energy property and qualified fuel cell property. I am also a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 822, the Energy Efficiency Incentives Act of 2007. This legislation would provide individual taxpayers with a tax credit, through 2011, for residential energy efficiency expenditures. Also, it extends the tax credit to non-business property, including air conditioners, heat pumps, water heaters, etc., and includes a revised tax credit to include all solar-derived electricity. The bill would extend through 2014 the tax deduction for energy efficient commercial buildings, increase the existing maximum amount of the deduction, and allow tax deductions for energy efficient low-rise buildings used for multifamily housing. Finally, the bill extends through 2011 the investment tax credit for solar energy and fuel cell property, and includes a business-related tax credit for training and certification costs and equipment expenditures used in the residential energy savings certification process.

I believe renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies help offset fuel imports, create numerous employment opportunities, develop our domestic economy and enhance and create export opportunities. In addition, renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies provide clean, inexhaustible energy for millions of consumers.

Again, thank you for writing to express your concerns. If you would like more information regarding this and other issues important to Colorado, please visit my website. If you would like to receive updates on news important to Coloradoans, click here. I look forward to hearing from you in the future.

Sincerely,

Wayne Allard
United States Senator