Americans agree that we need a newer, cheaper, and more responsible energy plan. Yet some in Congress promote a pretend solution though offshore oil and gas drilling, which is dangerous and has little or no benefit for consumers. Unfortunately, there is far too little attention being paid to renewing federal clean energy tax incentives, which are critical to promoting solutions like wind and solar power and energy efficiency. But unless Sen. Specter and other Senate Republicans drop their opposition, these tax incentives will soon expire.

The clean energy solutions that these incentives support will cut global warming pollution, create jobs here in Pennsylvania, and save consumers billions on their electricity bills. However, the American Wind Energy Association estimates that letting these tax credits expire could result in 75,000 jobs being lost this year.

Sen. Arlen Specter voted on three separate occasions to block House-passed proposals to extend the tax incentives. With only a handful of scheduled days left in the Senate's calendar for 2008, time is running out for Sen. Specter and his Senate colleagues to stop their obstructionist efforts and allow these tax incentives to be renewed.

Brendan Stuart
PennEnvironment Organizer
Philadelphia