CEI Joins Coalition Supporting Tax Reform, Cutting Green Energy Handouts
Dear Senators and Representatives:
On behalf of our organizations and the millions of Americans we represent, we write to express support for tax reform that repeals special exclusions that benefit certain industries and sectors.
We encourage you to oppose efforts to extend favorable tax treatment to renewable energy industries — e.g., the wind production tax credit (PTC), solar investment tax credit (ITC), and expired tax provisions pertaining to small-scale wind, fuel cell facilities, and geothermal. We note that the unified tax framework provides flexibility to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee to “decide to retain some […] business credits to the extent budgetary limitations allow.”
We will stand with you in opposing the calls of special interests to preserve these tax narrow provisions.
The unified tax framework calls for reducing the corporate tax rate to 20 percent. This lower rate will benefit the overall economy, promote job growth, and make U.S. businesses more competitive. Extending and expanding these tax provisions benefitting narrow special interests makes it difficult to maintain this 20 percent rate.
Over the past decades, favorable tax treatment for renewable energy has consistently failed to deliver on its promises of long-term job creation and economic viability. Americans deserve access to energy solutions that are affordable and reliable—ones that can stand on their own in the marketplace—as well as a federal tax code that is fair and simple. Closing these loopholes would reduce complexity in the tax code and create a level playing field where all energy sources and new technologies can compete.
We applaud your progress to date toward the important goal of progrowth, comprehensive tax reform. We will stand with you in opposing extending special tax treatment for renewable energy industries as you process the unified tax framework into legislative text. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Chrissy Harbin, Vice President of External Affairs
Americans for Prosperity
Myron Ebell, Director, Center for Energy and Environment,
Competitive Enterprise Institute
Grover Norquist, President
Americans for Tax Reform
James L. Martin, Founder & Chairman
60 Plus Association
Phil Kerpen, President
American Commitment
Thomas J. Pyle, President
American Energy Alliance
Sean Noble, President
American Encore
Dr. Steven J. Allen (JD, PhD), VP & Chief Investigative Officer
Capital Research Center*
David T. Stevenson, Director, Center for Energy Competitiveness
Caesar Rodney Institute
Paul K. Driessen, Senior Policy Analyst
Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT)
Matthew Kandrach, President
Consumer Action for a Strong Economy
Thomas Schatz, President
Council for Citizens Against Government Waste.
Craig Richardson, President
E&E Action
Carrie Sheffield, Executive Director
Generation Opportunity
Dan Caldwell, Executive Director
Concerned Veterans for America
Daniel Garza, President
The LIBRE Initiative
Nathan Nascimento, Vice President of Policy
Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce
David Williams, President
Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Judson Phillips, Founder
Tea Party Nation
* Organization listed for identification purpose only