Press Release: Clean Energy Business Coalitions Comment on Status of Reconciliation Bill, Reiterate Urgency for Congressional Action on Clean Energy and Climate Change Policy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 15, 2022

Contacts:
Laura Tierney, ltierney@bcse.org, Tel: 202-785-0507, ext. 1507
Andy Barnes, abarnes@cebn.org, Tel: 202-785-0507, ext. 1503

Washington, D.C. – The Presidents of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) and the Clean Energy Business Network (CEBN) offered the following statements in response to the status of the climate provisions and clean energy and energy efficiency tax measures under consideration in a reconciliation package.

BCSE president Lisa Jacobson:

“The Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) urges Congress to enact a budget reconciliation package with robust and transformative climate change policies and clean energy, sustainable transportation, and energy efficiency tax measures. The recent statements that these provisions may not be included is a major setback and the BCSE urges congressional leaders to come together to enact these policies.

“Enactment of clean energy and energy efficiency tax measures are vital tools to help mitigate increasing energy costs and strengthen our long-term national energy security. Further, these policies are necessary if we are to ensure continued development and deployment of sustainable energy resources in the United States that are affordable, efficient, low-carbon and resilient.

“The technologies are available today to make significant emissions reductions now and lower energy costs for consumers. The private sector is making record-level investments in the clean energy transition, but a predictable and long-term national tax and policy framework is needed to support accelerated and expanded deployment.”

CEBN president Lynn Abramson:

“The Clean Energy Business Network (CEBN) is extremely disappointed to learn that negotiations on clean energy and climate provisions within reconciliation have hit a roadblock.

“We strongly urge Congressional leaders to find a path forward on these important measures to spur clean energy deployment, which are anti-inflationary and will help those Americans that are hurting the most.

“The CEBN remains committed to working with lawmakers and small businesses across the nation to promote the diversification of the U.S. energy economy. Jobs, resilience, and the climate are all on the line. We must get this done.”

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The Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) is a coalition of companies and trade associations from the energy efficiency, natural gas and renewable energy sectors, and also includes investor-owned utilities, public power, independent power producers, project developers, equipment manufacturers, and environmental and energy market service providers. Established in 1992, the Council advocates for policies that expand the use of commercially-available clean energy technologies, products and services.  For more information on the Council, please visit www.bcse.org. For the latest industry data, download the Sustainable Energy in America Factbook.

The Clean Energy Business Network (CEBN) is the small business voice for the clean energy economy, working to enhance opportunities for clean energy providers through policy support, market and technology education, and business development assistance. For more information, please visit: www.cebn.org.