The Securing America’s Energy Independence Act

House of Representatives Bill H.R. 550 & Senate Bill S. 590

Key Details of the Bills
• Extends the ITC for all residential and commercial solar and fuel cell equipment for 8 additional years (with the commercial solar ITC reverting back to 10% in 2017).
• Modifies the residential and commercial tax credit for photovoltaics to $1,500 per half kilowatt ($3/watt in 500 watt increments.)
• Removes the 30% cap for commercial photovoltaic installations and the $2,000 cap on residential photovoltaic installations.
• Provides AMT relief for fuel cells and solar.
• Provides 3-year accelerated depreciation for commercial solar and fuel cell projects.

Benefits of the Securing America’s Energy Independence Act
• Energy Security. Solar and fuel cells help to stabilize the grid, provide clean, reliable power, and reduce the impact of natural disasters or terrorist
acts. Producing these home-grown technologies in the U.S. will reduce our
dependence on foreign sources of energy, while at the same time lowering
the cost of energy to consumers.
• Reduction in the use of high cost natural gas can be best achieved with
expanded use of solar and some fuel cell generation technologies. In most
parts of the US, peak electric loads occur when solar electricity is near optimal efficiency (9 AM – 6 PM). Those loads are almost exclusively served
by central station gas generation, often the least efficient gas generation.
An 8-year extension of the ITC will displace over 4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and save consumers over $32 billion.
• Job creation. Fuel cells and solar systems require high-tech manufacturing facilities and produce well paying, high-quality jobs. Extending the tax
credit will create an estimated 55,000 new jobs in the solar industry and
over $45 billion in economic investment.
• Clean Energy. Solar energy is the cleanest of all renewable energy sources, producing electricity and thermal energy with zero emissions, no waste by-products and no water use. Fuel cells can provide zero emissions energy and can be run from renewable energy resources.

Tell Congress to Support the Energy Independence Act

The Rural Wind Energy Development Act

House of Representatives H.R. 1772 and Senate S. 673

The Rural Wind Energy Development Act would provide $1,500 per one-half kilowatt of capacity for small wind systems. This bill would provide tax credits for wind installations by rural homeowners, farmers, ranchers, and small businesses.

Contact your representative and express your support: Click here to submit an EASY electronic letter or call 202-224-3121.

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