posted April 21, 2005
Congressman Zach Wamp said Thursday the current energy bill is inadequate.
While the Energy Policy Act contains many provisions important to the security of all Americans, tax incentives for renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies and programs were not adequately funded in the House version of the bill, he said.
He said President Bush's energy policy strongly encourages investment in renewables and energy efficiency because these energy sources and technologies will help transition the United States into a more energy-independent nation.
Congressman Wamp said he anticipates the Senate adding more renewable energy and energy efficiency tax incentives in its version, and he looks forward to a vote when it comes to the House floor in the coming months ahead.
Rep. Wamp delivered the following remarks on the House floor about H.R. 6, the "Energy Policy Act":
"Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. I am torn, I will have to tell you. I support the President, and I support the President's request for a national energy policy.
But he sent a request for $6.7 billion of tax incentives, 72 percent of which was for renewables and energy efficiency; and this base bill has 6 percent of the total [tax breaks in $8 billion bill] for those two very important functions given the crisis that we face today.
I am the co-chairman of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus. Over half of the House are members (of the Caucus). We asked for four amendments last night to ratchet this back up some, just a little; and all four were denied. That is not right.
Yet there are so many important things in this bill. So I am torn. I do not want to vote against the new residential personal 15 percent tax credit for photovoltaics that does not exist today, or the 20 percent tax credit for homeowners to install energy -efficiency improvements to their home, or Charlie Bass's billion dollar rebate program for investment in renewable energy.
But I am telling you, all of it together is 6 percent instead of 72 percent that our President asked us for. I am for the President. I am for his plan. And I hope that the conference report after we work with the Senate has it all in there, because no one in this House wants an energy policy more than me. I have worked for a decade as an appropriator on those important investments, yet I asked for amendments to improve this bill, and every one of them was denied.
Mr. Speaker, I want to move the process forward. I want it to get to the Senate. But I want a bill that is good for America. And I want the President's proposal. I want the 72 percent on renewables and energy efficiency and alternatives and clean fuels, extend the tax credit so people will drive these hybrid cars. This does not even extend that tax credit. It is not enough. We need to do more."
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