With Friends Like These...

What could they possibly be thinking?

a) How can we best insure that we'll continue to fight for oil?
b) How can we ignore the evidence that global warming is a real threat?
c) How can we simultaneously shoot our supporters the bird, while looking even more ineffectual as leaders?
d) We're not comfortable in the role of leaders, so how can we orchestrate a Republican victory and make this burden go away?
e) What kind of program will insure enegy independence, build high-paying American jobs, give hope for curing many of our nations ills; and how can we kill it?
f) If we do kill it will we really look like idiots or just stupid?
g) Where did I leave my spine?

So many questions, so little time.

The democrats, yes folks, the DEMOCRATS are considering the possibility of eliminating the tax incentives for renewable energy from the now-germinating energy bill. In some Carrollian reality warp the party of Mo Udall, Al Gore and Bobby Kennedy Jr. is kicking around the idea of throwing away the incentives for solar, wind, and geothermal energy in the interest of getting a bill delivered out before the Thanksgiving recess.

The tax incentives now in place favor the installation of solar energy systems in commercial and residential property with a 30% tax credit and up to a $2,000 credit, respectively. These incentives are favored by environmentalists and the solar energy trade groups (SEIA) among others. These kinds of incentives allow a fledgling industry to establish a viable base for the building of a dealer network and wider public acceptance of the technology. What's the rush in pulling the supports out from under them? Is it truly critical to have a bill by Thanksgiving? By Christmas?

It is more important to recognize that, as Alan Greenspan said recently, we are fighting in Iraq for oil. We do this because we have not made the necessary investments in the future, investments like solar and wind enegy. The building of this new technology would help bring specialized manufacturing jobs into the domestic economy. We do not need to rush a bill through. We need to take responsible steps to secure a clean energy future and begin putting oil on the back burner of energy sources.

Let our Congressman and Senators know what you think.

Baron Hill, U.S. House of Representatives, 223 Cannon House Office Bldg., Washington D.C. 20515-1409
Telephone (202)225-5315
email: baronhill.house.gov

Evan Bayh, 131 Russell Senate Office Bldg., Washington D.C. 20510
Telephone(202)224-5623
Web Form: bayh.senate.gov/WebMail1.htm

Richard Lugar, 306 Hart Senate Office Bldg., Washington D.C. 20510
Telphone (202)224-4814
email: senator_lugar@lugar.senate.gov