[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3634]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     SOLAR IN THE ECONOMIC STIMULUS

  (Ms. GIFFORDS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, a strong solar power industry creates good 
jobs and widespread economic growth. It increases our energy 
independence and reduces the threat of global warming. Unfortunately, 
the economic downturn has caused many energy investors to put their 
projects on hold. They are unable to take advantage of the investment 
tax credit that we fought so hard to pass and extend last year.
  To get these projects moving again, the American Recovery and 
Reinvestment Act allows solar energy developers to take grants in lieu 
of tax credits. But for the grant program to be an incentive for the 
largest renewable energy programs, it has to be expanded. Simply put, 
renewable projects will not get off the starting line until there is a 
usable incentive waiting for them at the finish line.
  As the conferees work to finalize this bill, I urge them to expand 
these grants. This will safeguard the solar industry's ability to fully 
contribute to our economic recovery. I commend the excellent work done 
on the energy provisions in this bill and greatly appreciate the 
conferees' willingness to work to make them as effective as possible.

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