----- Original Message -----
From: Adam Browning, Vote Solar
Sent: Friday, December 07, 2007 8:34 AM
Subject: House passes energy bill, game on in the senate



Friends-

The game is on. Today, by a 235 to 181 vote, the House passed a energy bill that
contains the strong support for solar necessary to bring this technology to
scale. Namely:

a.. an 8-year extension of the 30% investment tax credit for solar
installations in businesses
b.. a 6-year extension of the investment tax credit for residential solar
systems, with a $4000 cap
This is the strongest solar bill ever introduced in Congress, and is what's
necessary to build the renewable energy future that the world so desperately
needs.
Now, the fight moves to the Senate, where prospects are much less certain. To
quote Energy and Environment Daily:

'Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.), the top Republican on the Senate Energy
Committee, said "If it comes over here, we have no alternative but to have war,"
he told reporters.'

Well then. Merits aside, that's just stupid politics. With support for renewable
energy polling through the roof, that's a long term losing hand.

But if it is war the solar-haters want, it is war they get. A vote earlier this
summer on the same issue broke down along largely party lines (list here, pdf).
If you have a Republican senator, now would be a good time to give them a call.
Seriously. Domenici just dared you. All but called you a punk. Pretty much spat
in your general direction. You going to take that lying down?

Find phone numbers here.
Share your views on solar, and maybe how you feel about politicians that think
it is just fine to thwart the will of 90% of America. And ask them, for the good
of the country, to support HR 6.

At this point, it appears that Senator Reid will schedule the Senate vote as
early as Saturday.
More information, including bill text and summaries, can be found here.

Onwards-
The Vote Solar team
300 Brannan, Suite 609
San Francisco, CA 94107
www.votesolar.org

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