Alliance to Save Energy seeks upgrades for energy efficiency incentives
The Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) maintains Congress should address tax code flaws by modernizing and reinstating energy efficiency tax incentives needed for strong efficiency gains.
“We view this as a critical flaw not just in tax policy but also in our climate and economic policy,” Alliance President Jason Hartke wrote in a statement to the House Ways and Means Committee during a hearing on temporary tax incentives. “Energy efficiency is the most powerful energy resource we have. It’s both an enormous economic opportunity – by far the largest job-creator in the clean energy sector – and the single most effective solution we have for climate change,”
Hartke noted it has been years since the nation had meaningful, long-term efficiency incentives and more than a year since there have been any incentives at all.
Officials said homes and buildings account for 40 percent of energy consumption – adding tax incentives encouraging energy efficiency improvements can reduce energy demand, reducing operating costs and pollution.
“We urge you to rectify this omission by modernizing the existing temporary efficiency incentives and passing forward-looking, multi-year extensions,” Hartke concluded.
“Reflecting the environmental and economic opportunities presented, we believe such extensions would draw strong support not only from efficiency and environmental advocates but also from the business community.”
