Democrats Push Clean Energy Rescue in Next Virus Recovery Bills

Dozens of House and Senate Democrats on Wednesday called on congressional leaders to put the ailing wind, solar, and other renewable energy producers front and center in the next round of Covid-19 recovery packages.

A letter signed by 24 senators including Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and dozens of House Democrats—including Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), who chairs a House Energy and Commerce panel on climate change—urges quick action to help a sector that has lost an estimated 600,000 jobs in recent months. The lawmakers suggested, among other actions, extending expiring clean energy tax credits.

• “The myriad devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are staggering, and further compounded by a potentially prolonged economic downturn,” the letter says, adding Congress could ensure that recovery efforts focus on the “existential threat” posed by climate change.
• Senate backers of the letter include several contestants for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination: Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.). Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) issued a separate statement backing the push to prioritize clean energy assistance in future legislation.
• Republicans have resisted addressing renewable energy and climate in previous recovery packages, with some conservatives accusing Democrats of trying to promote the Green New Deal climate change blueprint (H Res. 109).