Washington, D.C. – The Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) and the Clean Energy Business Network (CEBN) released a factsheet today detailing West Virginia’s investments in demand- and supply-side energy solutions. The factsheet highlights energy projects driving economic growth in West Virginia as Congress considers budget reconciliation proposals that would impact jobs and economic development in the state by altering and drastically limiting the timeline of key energy tax credits.
Alongside the factsheet release, BCSE and CEBN will host a press briefing this morning, June 24 at 11:00 am ET, in which energy industry leaders will discuss the importance of federal energy tax credits for driving investment, boosting economic growth, and expanding energy resources in West Virginia amid skyrocketing demand growth. Participating companies and organizations include Tenaska, Pickering Associates, the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association, and the Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Association. Click here to register.
“Companies rely on long-term business certainty in the tax code to plan projects and allocate capital,” said BCSE President Lisa Jacobson. “As we face an era of unprecedented energy demand growth, now is not the time to disrupt the market by making unnecessary changes to the tax structure. West Virginia needs more energy now to keep the lights on for homes and businesses – and these tax incentives are unleashing homegrown energy across the state.”
West Virginia is already experiencing sharp increases in energy demand coupled with concerns about rising energy costs. The House-passed budget reconciliation bill would increase household energy spending in West Virginia by an average of nearly $160 per year in 2030 and more than $410 per year in 2035.
Clear, predictable, and long-term tax policy is essential for market confidence that will get projects deployed quickly and urgently. The changes proposed in the House-passed budget reconciliation bill are expected to result in the loss of 2,000 jobs in West Virginia by 2030 and nearly 3,300 jobs by 2035, due to a decline in new investments in domestic energy and manufacturing. Additionally, annual GDP in West Virginia would shrink by $190 million in 2030 and $320 million in 2035.
“West Virginia is emerging as an attractive place for energy businesses, from startups to manufacturers to project developers, creating good-paying jobs and taxpayer revenue in communities across the state,” said Lynn Abramson, President of the Clean Energy Business Network. “But these growth industries are in jeopardy as Congress considers reopening the existing energy tax code. Policy certainty is essential for fostering a pro-business environment, especially for small companies with limited resources.”
As the Senate now considers changes to the tax code through budget reconciliation, BCSE and CEBN will share industry perspectives with policymakers and urge that the proposals remove burdensome red tape and provide a smoother transition for businesses currently utilizing the energy tax credits. The coalition’s reconciliation bill priorities can be found here.