SUPPORTING A FEDERAL RENEWABLE ENERGY PORTFOLIO STANDARD AND EXTENDING THE RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION AND INVESTMENT TAX CREDITS

WHEREAS, the nation faces unprecedented energy challenges, including rapidly escalating energy costs, over dependence on foreign sources of energy, and critical choices about energy resources that will affect the nation's future economic well-being and security; and

WHEREAS, strategic federal renewable energy policies are critical to positioning America to be competitive in the global economy, increase American energy independence, build livable and sustainable communities, drive investment in new, clean energy solutions and create new, local jobs, aiding in our national economic recovery; and

WHEREAS, in 2009 there were roughly 50,000 people working in the US solar energy sector and in 2010 the number rose to 100,000; and

WHEREAS, commercialization of 2nd & 3rd generation of Bio-fuel energy is expected to generate 800,000 new jobs – 610,000 indirect new jobs and 190,000 direct new jobs – by 2022 in the US; and

WHEREAS, sustained growth in the renewable energy sector and commensurate job increases requires a reliable federal renewable energy policy framework; and

WHEREAS, over 1,025 mayors have signed The U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, pledging their commitment to reducing their communities’ greenhouse gas emissions by 7 percent from their 1990 levels; and

WHEREAS, The U.S. Conference of Mayors has endorsed a national goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent from 1990 levels by 2050; and

WHEREAS, according to the 2011 “Clean Energy Solutions for America's Cities” report commissioned by The U.S. Conference of Mayors found that one-quarter of U.S. cities (25%) have set specific targets for increasing their use of renewable energy; and

WHEREAS, successful local government programs could be expanded or replicated throughout the country, thereby resulting in nationwide reductions in energy use which will increase our nation's energy independence and competitiveness while improving our national and global environment; and

WHEREAS, the federal government, by supporting renewable energy deployment, would demonstrate its commitment to help solve some of the most important issues facing the nation – energy independence, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving the environment, and creating thousands of jobs; and

WHEREAS, local governments have successfully utilized their American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant funds to implement local strategies that create jobs, save energy, promote renewable sources, and cut greenhouse gas emissions; and

WHEREAS, renewable electricity production tax credits and business energy investment tax credits have proven successful in spurring the development and deployment of renewable energy throughout the US; and

WHEREAS, the Renewable Electricity Production Tax Credit for wind production ends on December 31^st 2012, and the production tax credit for other forms of renewable electricity expires on December 31^st 2013; and

WHEREAS, the Business Energy Investment Tax Credit expires December 31, 2016,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that The U.S. Conference of Mayors calls on Congress and the Administration to adopt an aggressive national renewable energy portfolio standard, and extend the renewable electricity production tax credit through at least 2020 and the business energy investment tax credit through at least 2022.

Projected Cost: Unknown