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A Big Step Forward for Clean Energy In Congress's First 100 Hours

For decades, wealthy oil companies have been enjoying government subsidies in the form of billions of dollars in tax cuts. But in a far-sighted move for the environment, the new 110th Congress is now drafting a bill (H.R. 6) that would not only repeal these unneeded tax breaks, but would in turn use that money to fund renewable energy research and promote energy efficiency and clean alternative fuels.

This commonsense approach would help realign our national energy priorities away from subsidizing environmentally-destructive companies already enjoying record profits, and toward real steps to combat global warming and build a better, cleaner energy future for America.

Congress is scheduled to vote January 18th, so your representative needs to hear from you now. Please help encourage our leaders to do the right thing: end tax subsidies to Big Oil and use the savings for new investments in clean renewable energy.

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Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: YES to clean energy and H.R. 6

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

As a taxpayer and a constituent, I am writing to encourage you to support H.R. 6, which will create a fund for cleaner and more sustainable renewable energy sources and energy efficiency initiatives and pay for it by ending unnecessary tax breaks for the oil industry.

As the threat of global warming and its impact to people and our environment becomes more and more apparent, it is vital that the United States significantly increase our support of alternatives to fossil fuels.

Cutting unnecessary tax breaks for oil companies already enjoying record profits can save billions of dollars, which can be redirected toward funding the production of clean, renewable energy, promoting new emerging technologies, developing greater efficiency, and improving energy conservation.

In the first 100 hours of the 110th Congress, please vote in favor of H.R. 6 in order to make a long-term investment into the future of our country.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
January 11, 2007


Background Information

 Earthjustice at Work


Earthjustice is taking on global warming, using the power of the law to force the government to take action, including:

-Greenhouse Gas and Global Warming: Earthjustice is challenging EPA to compel the agency to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from cars and trucks under the Clean Air Act.

-Inuit Human Rights and Climate Change: Earthjustice has petitioned the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to declare that the United States is guilty of violating the human rights of the Inuit people -- those most immediately affected by warming.

-Mexican Border Power Plants: In an important precedent, the International Program compelled the Department of Energy to prepare an environmental analysis that looked at the effects of these plants' emissions on global warming. Earthjustice is also working on several cases that have indirect global warming benefits.

 
In the first 100 hours of our new 110th Congress, a growing number of legislators are already taking important action to roll back the unnecessary giveaways given to the oil industry.

If passed, a new bill currently in development (H.R. 6) would remove billions of dollars of these unnecessary subsidies, and use the saved money to invest in renewable energy research and promote energy efficiency and clean alternative fuels.

What’s included? Specifically, the rollback of the oil industry tax cuts will:

  • Repeal the oil industry’s ability to deduct their geological “exploration costs” from their fiscal expenditures;
  • Eliminate the industry’s ability to claim the reclassification of oil and gas production as a “manufactured good,” and
  • Ensure that the industry pays royalties from oil and gas produced in the Gulf of Mexico, leased between 1998 and 1999.

Repealing these tax breaks would generate billions of dollars, to be redirected toward funding the production of clean, renewable energy, promoting new emerging technologies, developing greater energy efficiency, and improving energy conservation.

 
Continuing to subsidize the oil industry is a dead-end road for America and the planet
This proposal is of great consequence to the future of energy policy in the United States. It is a chance to begin to make progress toward shifting our national energy strategy toward combating the greenhouse gas emissions that are causing global climate change. As the threat of global warming and its impacts to people and wildlife become more and more obvious, the United States must start supporting alternatives to fossil fuels instead of continuing to subsidize the oil industry.

This bill could provide renewable energy industries the support they need to become better established, giving them an important boost to becoming more economically viable alternatives. In addition, ending this giveaway of your taxpayer dollars to Big Oil is an important step toward making America energy independent.

Congress will vote on H.R. 6 on the 18th of January! Please take a moment to write your representative.