Senate Sends Renewable Tax Credit Extension To House Without Offsets

摘要

The Senate overwhelmingly approved bipartisan legislation Thursday to extend expiring tax credits for renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies, but House Democratic leaders appear unlikely to accept the measure as-is because it lacks spending cuts to offset its estimated $6 billion price tag.rnSenators voted 88-8 to attach the energy tax credit legislation to a Democratic package of provisions responding to the home mortgage crisis, and the housing bill then was sent to a House-Senate conference committee by a vote of 84-12.rnHowever, a House Democratic leadership aide told The Energy Daily that the Senate-passed measure would effectively remain in limbo while House Democratic leaders looked for spending offsets for the renewable tax credits.rn"As far as the Senate package, we are really in a wait-and-see mode," the aide said. "We are committed to moving a bill in the House, which would likely include offsets, although none have been discussed....We are willing to work with the Senate on other offsets."