Mary - thanks for the heads up - this is AWFUL!!!!  the folks from Pelosi and Reid's district can really help by calling... I'll get some calls from here... 

So much for these folks being environmentalists as they pretend to be.

EVA - Thank you for your support! I was shocked when this was brought to my attention last evening. I am not a morning person but was up before 6 to get this written and out there. The last minute changes are unbelievable!

RANDY - I agree. This comes one month after Al Gore was given the Nobel for Global Warming. What really irritates me is that they propose these amendments at the last minute to slide them in without public scrutiny. 

Thanks for your comments and support! 

Thanks for the informaiton.  Glad to see some Democrats as being the first spineless mammals!

Matthew - LOL! What a waste of our dollars to debate this bill for so long and then become slippery snakes at the last minute caving to the PAC's and the oil industry. It's a poor political move to play party games. Thanks for your comment! (now go make that call!)

Mary~

 I will let my list of interested parties know about this...I wonder what this COULD mean to so many of our clients who sincerely are seeking-economic and environmental remedies. . .

Hi JaneAnne - Interesting question. The podcast I link to from SEIA is quite interesting. There is also a text version of the conference. The economic benefits to the United States would be very great. In my own State of Michigan UNI Solar has just opened their second plant in Greenville Michigan, the first is in Auburn Hills. Production started Nov 1. They plan a couple of expansions in Greenville. This is great for Greenville who was turned upside down by Electrolux shutting the plant down and moving to Mexico. It put the majority of the city out of work.

For UNI Solar and other companies to make a positive impact it is imperative the Residential and Corporate Tax Credits are passed. Our state has NO RPS ... NO Tax Credits. The current Federal Credits, which are well below par, are the only credits we have to take advantage of to make renewable energy affordable for all. When I look at what California is doing I get very frustrated that in our state we don't get a fraction of what California does. AND it is working for them AND their economy. Michigan needs to get their hands out of the Big 3 automakers pockets and look at alternatives. We have a growing health industry and renewables could follow providing RPS' are passed. My good friend Allan O'Shea is going to see our governor today -- hopefully he will bring back better news.

Thanks for your insight...these are some of my thoughts...anyone else have thoughts/insight? 

Why on earth would they want to eliminate the tax credit?  It's not like it's direct money out of (or into) their own pocket!  Unbelievable!

This is another act of congress that should be the an example for a mandate of responsible leadership on capital hill. What are they thinking ????

Bonner

Interesting who did that... people who claim to "back" environmental protection. Good Find Mary.

ED - isn't that just the craziest? I don't understand the logic in any of it.

Moosewood!! is my graphic! Funny!

Bonner - I don't think our congress knows the meaning of responsible or leadership yet along use them in the same sentence! VERY crazy! We need to be more vocal about what we, the people, want. Thanks for the comment.

Isn't that interesting DANIEL? It's all about PAC money it seems. Too bad. I certainly hope people get emails flooding into their reps boxes. This is the third or fourth piece of legislation in the past two weeks they are ramming down our throats that will impact us all negatively. Thanks for the comment! Will you make it to Green Drinks tonight?

Green Drinks?? I think I missed something somewhere.  Fill me in!

Hurry up January 2009!

Daniel - Sorry! I'll have to get you on my Green Drinks Blast list! 

Walker Green Drinks 

We had a good mix of people tonight and would have loved it if you could have made it! I'll make sure you get on the list for the next one which will be December 12. Mark your calender and bring some friends / associates / people interested in learning more, sharing more and networking!  

Gary - I just don't know! Not a lot of choice out there on either side!!! SCARY!!! Especially when I heard about this legislation and who was behind it today. There are games being played on both sides and the American people are suffering because of it. 

Mary, thanks for the info, I will call my congressman tomorrow.  Fat chance it will help.  He votes against everything good.  I heard a speech Barak Obama gave the other day.  He said something along the lines of the Democratic congress acting like bush republicans.  He was totally correct.  Its like they fooled us into voting for them.  They are doing nothing they were elected by us to do.  I am totally over all of them!

TERRY - Thank you for your support, I know you will follow through! I would like to see your congressman vote AGAINST these amendments! That would be great! 

In the deep recesses of my mind I think this is a trick by the Dem's to pass this policy with amendments just to get Bush to VETO it. THEN the press will tell us that Bush Vetoed the Energy Bill. There are games being played because we have an election year coming up. Sickening. The PEOPLE are going to suffer for their political gain.  

Hey Mary,  I just don't know what to say about all of this.  I have already emailed my guys....a few times.  :)  I'm really glad that you posted this.  I hope some of these people email also.

Mary...your explanation may have hit the nail on the head. I was wondering if it could be a concession (to get votes) to pass it so they can say they DID pass an Energy Bill (content not withstanding)

They have been getting a lot of flack for not accomplishing anything!

Just a thought...

Hi Stephanie - I am with you! It makes my head hurt! I checked my mail, I have not received any responses back yet. I sent out about 12 letters today. I'll check tomorrow!

Hi Joan - Agreed. I don't want to get negative. That said the PAC's are getting bolder and bolder with spoon feeding our reps. 

There was an article recently in either the WSJ or the NYT talking about how foreign companies AND countries are purchasing so many high ticket properties in the US. Casinos, office buidings, etc. They are purchasing gold with the money we pay for oil then leveraging against us and purchasing our properties.

I do hope people recognize the reality of all this and respond to this call to action.Let us being to voice our opinions to our reps, like Stephanie said. Our governments, Local, State, Federal need to remember that WE are paying their wages. They are PUBLIC servants albeit well PAID servants, and they need to promote policies good for all, not just special interest.

Thanks Joan for your comment! 

Moosewood!  How appropriate:)  How did the Walker Green Drinks meeting go?  Did you have a good turn out?  I'm sure hoping to see a post and some pictures. 

Hi Ed! I thought the Moosewood was funny (Ed and I are Women of the MOOSE!) Walker Green Drinks went well for our first meeting! 14 attendees with a good variety of professions! I will blog later. I didn't get too many photos! New people now used to me flashing my camera! They will learn!

This is awful, though not suprising! I try not to be a cynical person but sometimes that is very difficult. I try to keep the belief that people (even politicians) will do the right thing when it really comes down to it. Oftentimes however it seems like the constant drip of water that would take so long to wear that boulder down has finally succeeded. In this scenario, what is represented by the water and what is represented by the boulder.

This is a very good post. Lots of important info. Armed with information, the individual person then...

Mary, thanks for passing the information and links on to us. I've made all 3 of my calls!

Rich - thank you for the many compliments! Good analogy and you are correct in saying who is wearing down who. I know we have some good elected officials and then there are those who perform on a very different level than the platform they proclaim to represent. 

Armed with information, the individual person then... writes to representatives often voicing their opinion. Pays better attention to the candidates, not just voting on party lines and not taking for granted what the media says the candidate represents. Doing homework and letting the candidates know BEFORE elections what is acceptable and what is not. You have raised great points Rich! Thanks for making me think!

Dena - Thank you from all of us. They are trying to get this measure passed before the break next week. Every little bit will help and I hope we are able to make an impact. It is critical these credits are available, especially for people who are financially challenged. It is really hard to hear someone talk about how they have paid their mortgage late because they have inefficient homes coupled with high utility bills. Thank you for always doing the right thing!

Hi Mary

Wow! Great post - I miss a lot on the news (two young kiddos) and love that I can come to active rain to catch up on Global (going green is global, right?) politics. But, ugh! What a disaster, though I'm not surprised. You know what I would love to see? I would LOVE to see our government subsidize organic and local farming/ranching - making it cheaper to buy healthy than to buy from big fast-food stores (we all know what I'm talking about it). I would love to see the government make it financially beneficial to the American Auto Industry to create alternative-fuel/green cars and trucks, instead of subsidizing them to stay alive in the global auto market - make them the leaders once more! I would love for the oil and gas industries to GAIN financially from finding/manufacturing and refining renewable energy resources. I guess I don't really understand why it has to be so contentious - isn't it possible to create a win-win for everyone??? I guess that's the Pollyanna in me but I seriously do wish our government would make "green" easy instead of hard; I wish they would create ways (like tax breaks and incentives that make sense) that would allow the average, and below average, tax bracket to really make a difference in our environment. This latest development just makes me sad...flat out sad...that in order to get a bill passed by Thanksgiving, our leaders are willing to compromise the purpose of the bill. I guess I will just continue making a difference in my own little part of the world - and leave DC in DC....

Thanks for the post (guess I needed to vent a little, huh?!)

Emily, Bellingham, Washington

EMILY - if that is what you call venting you can vent on my blog any time you choose! You present some very good ideas. "our leaders are willing to compromise the purpose of the bill." It is very unfortunate when this happens and it is all too often we see it happening these days.

From Nancy Pelosi's website there is a press release dated July 05 Pelosi's press release says of the energy bill, “Nonetheless, like its predecessors, this energy bill is a missed opportunity. It does not address the issues that the American people care about – lower gas prices at the pump, a healthy environment, safe water to drink, and cleaner air. This bill is still anti-taxpayer, anti-consumer, and anti-environment."

If that is truly how she feels why is she supporting amendments that will take tax credits away from the people who need it the most? It just doesn't make sense and I am with you Emily. This is just flat out sad.... 

Thanks for this information.  The only thing we have in this society for power is our money.  We need to come together as a nation and support companies that are going 'green'.  Stop buying products from china, start buying products that support our ecomony and our environment!  With Christmas coming we could make an impact.  Go to http://www.idealbite.com/ for some great tips on greener living.  They even have ideas for presents and info on companies that are kind to our world.

Democracy consists of choosing your dictators, after they've told you what you think it is you want to hear.

ALAN COREN

Patti - Thanks for the tip on the website! I love it! I also love your ideas on purchasing products that support our economy and our environment. That is one thing I like about LEED - to qualify products must be from 500 miles or less. This protects our environment, supports "local" economy and reduces freight. It is unreal the projections of where oil is going to go because of all the freighters that have been commissioned to be manufactured and delivered by 2012. 

Thanks for your comment and for tying this in with being green! 

Another example of  talking from one side of themouth and voting with the other. Pelosi and Reid make me naseous. Politics as usual

Ginger

Mary,

That's very unfortunate. Evidently supporters of the bill didn't have enough votes, so they had to remove some provisions to get it through. It isn't hard to figure out which interest groups are playing behind the scenes.

Yes Mary, its all about political posturing and nothing about what will help this country avert a looming depression, not to mention the price we will pay for not addressing global warming.  I've been politically active since 1970, and this is the first year that I just can't go along with the program.  Unfortunately even though the Dems may have a strategy we can't yet see, they are disappointing their fan base and turning many people off.  Look for the 08 elections, if they are held, to have a very low voter turn out.  The Dems strategy is going to backfire.

Hi MAry,

Had dinner with an architect here in Florida last night.  We were talking a little about LEEDS and USGBC and their efforts to become THE green standars in the industry/  He mentioned how so much of it was money-driven and how the builders and architects were turned off by their self-promotion.

I asked what he did - he said we show the client what WE do (which matches or exceeds the standards offered by the aforementioned entities) and mosty of all, push the SUSTAINABILITY of the enviro-friendly design and construction.  They like it.  And they like the absence of the bureacracy.

Let's build green enough so when people say "build", out brains say "green."  Sooner rather than later, please.

GINGER - yes, I'm with you!

ESKO - You are likely right on the money. Unfortunately, they are taking the wrong parts out. One article I read yesterday said they promise to look at the tax credits next year some time. Next year is an election year. I have my doubts that ANY thing will get looked at next year. Thanks for the comment!

TERRY - interesting thoughts. The democratic platform does not make sense to me either. On the other hand, either does the repubs. They have truly gotten away from the democratic system this country was founded on. I would like to see a candidate, just once, donate all their campaign funds towards retiring the national debt. That would speak volumes and they would receive advertising in free press. The election process is so wasteful. Thanks for the thoughtful comment!

ART - Let's build green enough so when people say "build", out brains say "green." 

I love that! and I agree. Within the next 10 years we will see this transition and consumers demanding it. A supplier I work with is gradually switching out products towards a more healthy variety. For instance, VOC adhesives for low, no VOC adhesives. They are changing their own processes to become more environmentally friendly. They are leading builders down the green pathway and showing them how to build more healthy, energy efficient homes and adopt more sustainable practices.

I like your architect's approach to this and that they meet or exceed standards. Ultimately, it is not about the standard or the rating, it is about the end product for the consumer. Thanks for your thoughtful comment!

Mary, I wanted to give you an update. I called my Senators Mel Martinez (R-FL) and Bill Nelson (D-FL) the day you posted this originally (one day prior to the vote, I think). I spoke to someone, at both offices, who answered the phone (probably an intern or aid) and told them to urge the Senators not to compromise on promoting the research and development of renewable energy sources. I urged them to encourage the Senators to vote NO on this politically expedient but detrimental energy bill because it would remove the very credits that encouraged the further development of renewable energy sources. Both Senators Martinez and Nelson had opposed previous bills that would have permitted offshore oil drilling closer to Florida's beaches and have been supporters of the Everglades Restoration Project but I got widely different answers from each Senator's office. Senator Nelson's aid responded that he would pass along my feelings but that the bill would not effect tax credits for solar power and that Renewable Portfolio Standards and tax credits were different issues. What???Was this person insane or just incompetent???Of course the two things are tied together. I was upset to say the least because this long term, fairly liberal Senator's office was telling me the Senator was going to vote to pass this energy bill when it makes it to the Senate floor! Senator Martinez had quite a different stance on this issue. His office informed me that the Senator supported tax credits for renewable energy sources and did not believe that stripping this out of the energy bill was wise! I was shocked that a recently elected, fairly right wing Senator's office was supportive of Renewable Portfolio Standards. I'm sure my shock is due to my media inundated bias that everything Republican is anti-environmental and everything Democratic is pro-environmental. It is my hope that Senator Nelson will reconsider when the bill reaches the Senate floor.

As for how my Representative actually voted...Connie Mack (R-FL) didn't even vote.

thanks for the updated information! You have to wonder where their heads are???

 Wow Rich - Thanks for the good recap. It is mind boggling. I have not heard back from any of my reps but Governor Granholm's office wrote and told me that they support renewables but this bill is at the Federal level and she is not involved. I find it hard to believe that she holds no influence with our reps. I thought that was a squirmy response myself and not the first time I have received one like that back.

BJ & B - or who bought their brains! Happy Thanksgiving!

HI Mary:

I am coming late to the discussion but does anyone know why both Democratic leaders in the House and Senate would decide to do this? It seems so strange and definitely reeks of politics somewhere. If I knew why it might make a bit more sense, maybe...

Mary- This is political bull at its core! I am so sick of both sides doing these slippery snake tactics at the last minute, it was probably planned all along. The dems and reps are all bad, all greedy, all do what they get paid by the highest bidder to do, The oil companies rule and I have a post I have been working on for some time now that is highly controversial but I don't care, the word needs to get out. If only Ron Paul could get a footing in. I doubt it, the biggies are just too big with the bucks, grass roots movements still don't have the momentum they need. To think the dems pretend that they are for cleaning up the environment is just a smoke screen. Katerina

Mary- This is political bull at its core! I am so sick of both sides doing these slippery snake tactics at the last minute, it was probably planned all along. The dems and reps are all bad, all greedy, all do what they get paid by the highest bidder to do, The oil companies rule and I have a post I have been working on for some time now that is highly controversial but I don't care, the word needs to get out. If only Ron Paul could get a footing in. I doubt it, the biggies are just too big with the bucks, grass roots movements still don't have the momentum they need. To think the dems pretend that they are for cleaning up the environment is just a smoke screen. Katerina

Hi Bill - I've been out on holiday! I agree with you that it reeks of politics. My personal opinion is there are several things going on ...Big 3, Bigger Oil, PACS, election year and the money the government loses when these tax credits are utilized. I find it very similar to the energy efficient mortgages that have been around for years. Now that people have heard about them and are looking into them, they drop the programs. Empty promises?

We still have tax credits through 2008. I have been looking for information on this bill and it does not look like it was passed before the holiday. I sincerely hope these amendments are not passed. With the rising energy costs and energy crisis we will be facing in a few short years we need these policies. Thanks for the insightful comment!

Hi Katerina - I agree! I have read too many posts like this recently. I don't know if I am more aware or if there is really more of this going on. I think the later. I will be looking forward to reading your post. It is important that the search engines bring results that tell the truth to the people. Our elected officials need to pay attention to what the people -- and not the PACS -- are saying. Thanks!

Thanks Mary. I just dont get Pelosi and Reid doing this. I am hoping that there is some other end game here that they are not telling us. Guess we will just have to wait and see.  

Hi Bill - wouldn't THAT be nice! The potential for increased employment resulting from demand for renewables is tremendous. Many of the jobs will be for skilled workers and will be difficult to outsource to other countries so it will help a lot of local economies in dire need. The tax credits are important to make renewables more affordable for the average Joe and Susy. You say, I am hoping that there is some other end game here that they are not telling us. THAT is what scares me!!! Thanks Bill!

Hey Mary,

 Thank you so much for staying on such an important issue.  I also hope that this discouraging news turns around into something good.

Mary:

I have seen so many bizarre things done in the name of politics not much surprises me any more. Since the credits are still in place for 2008 I would not be surprised to see the issue come back again somehow some way.

Hi Gabe - I'm with you!  Thanks!

Hi Bill - I agree but I do think it is a waste of our tax dollars to remove them from this bill and then spin wheels putting a new bill together. Job security, I suppose!

What a problem we have with our elected representatitves, I am personally appalled by their behavior, why are they going against the wishes of the American People in such a blatant disregard for the voters? Should we vote the bums out of office? - Lance

Hi Lance - Should we vote the bums out of office? That is one solution! As I hear the politics all over the air waves today I hear so many insignificant issues being discussed. There are rumblings in Michigan of a part time legislature. I must agree that it is a good solution for some of our problems. I think it would bring citizen's truly interested in public policy to the forefront and those who wish to work towards the people's best interest. Thanks for the comment!

Hi Mary:

I was discussing this issue with a green architect friend of mine and he indicated the reason they took the tax credits out was that they tied paying for these tax credits by cutting tax credits for the oil industry. Dont know if that is accurate or not but thought I would pass it along. 

Thanks Bill! I was just looking for the email I received from Pete Hoekstra, which I must have deleted! Pete's website explains he did not vote for the energy bill because of unclear mandates the bill would establish.

I understand there is a 30% personal tax credit, up to $4000,  for wind in the Farm Bill. This is good news!