I’m very excited that the energy bill just passed in the House with renewable energy incentives in place; some of these details are listed below. It’s a good start, but we need to get this past the Senate.. Solar Nation has a coordinated letter-writing campaign: http://capwiz.com/re-action/go/GENenergyvote. Add your voice today!

“Among its provisions, the energy bill passed by the House would:
* Require automakers to reach a fleetwide vehicle fuel efficiency of 35 mpg by 2020.

* Offer incentives to encourage advanced-technology vehicles and batteries, as well as plug-in hybrid vehicles.

* Increase the annual requirement for the amount of renewable fuels produced and used in motor vehicles from 9 billion gallons in 2008 to 36 billion gallons by 2022. Beginning in 2016, an increasing portion would have to be from advanced biofuels, such as switch grass.

* Require utilities to use renewable energy, such as solar and wind, to generate 15% of their electricity or to buy renewable-energy credits from others by 2020, but would exempt municipal and other publicly owned power plants.

* Offer $9 billion in tax incentives for production of electricity from renewable sources.

* Include a $3,000 tax credit for the purchase of hybrids and electric vehicles.

* Provide up to $3 billion for states and local tax credit bonds for low-interest loans and grants to help families buy energy-efficient appliances, improve the energy efficiency of their home, or install solar panels, small wind turbines and geothermal heat pumps.

* Include $2.2 billion in tax incentives for clean coal technology.

* End tax breaks for oil and gas companies that are worth at least $13 billion.

* Sets new efficiency standards for appliances such as refrigerators and freezers.

* Promote the purchase by the federal government of energy-efficient products and procurement of alternative fuels with lower carbon emissions.”

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