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“President Obama is the first president in a half-century able to tout America’s emerging energy independence. That didn’t happen by accident, but by the efforts of innovators combined with smart policies. Thanks to these efforts, the U.S. controls its own energy destiny for the first time in a generation. The danger now is not dependency. It is complacency. As we emerge from this long recession, we need to continue to make progress toward energy systems that are better and smarter. The established businesses and committed entrepreneurs who are making that happen need fair treatment in the tax code, funding for R&D and support for deployment and adoption of the best technologies. If we continue on this path, someday soon a future president just may announce at a State of the Union that the United States is the world’s biggest exporter of energy. That is a goal worth pursuing.” -- Graham Richard, CEO of Advanced Energy Economy.

This article was originally posted as an Op-Ed in The Hill.

“U.S. advanced energy businesses need tax certainty for their investments in order to maintain their position in a more than $1 trillion global industry,” said Graham Richard, CEO of Advanced Energy Economy. “On behalf of more than 60 signers of this letter, we call on Congress to extend retroactively the recently expired advanced energy tax credits for wind energy, biofuel, and energy efficiency investments. By doing so, Congress will spur continued growth in an industry that is helping to make our energy system more secure, clean, and affordable."

- Steve Chadima, SVP Communications & Director of California Initiatives at Advanced Energy Economy

"There is a dynamic 21st century energy system growing rapidly. The architects and builders are governors, legislative leaders, public utility commissioners and executives of innovative energy companies," Graham Richard writes in an editorial for Energy Biz Magazine. Read the full article on Advanced Energy Perspectives on Monday, or check out page 42 here (opens PDF).

"AEE commends the Governor for proposing a budget that is fiscally prudent and reinforces California's leadership in advanced energy. Advanced energy is critical to California's future and Governor Brown continues to place a priority on energy investments with a high potential for economic development and job growth. Returning borrowed cap and trade funds for use towards advanced energy programs further reinforces our mutual belief that California's efforts to realize its 2020 emissions goals will accelerate economic development in the state. California's advanced energy industry will continue to work with all elected officials to deliver on this promise."

At the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, a number of federal tax code provisions critical to advanced energy growth disappeared. That’s because Congress has allowed itself to make tax law by inertia. Without Congress saying a word or taking a vote, millions of dollars of tax credits to bolster investment and entrepreneurship simply vanished. Congress should act now to extend these tax provisions retroactively.