CONCORD, NH -Ann McLane Kuster unveiled her clean energy jobs plan today with a goal of growing 5,000 to 7,000 clean energy sector jobs in New Hampshire, without adding to the federal deficit. On a conference call with New Hampshire clean energy workers, Kuster promised to make job creation her #1 priority in Congress, and pointed to the clean energy sector as a promising area of growth for good jobs in New Hampshire.
"These are not the jobs of tomorrow - they are the jobs of today," said Kuster. "New Hampshire is already emerging as a leader in the area of clean energy technologies, so smart investments now can result in thousands of good jobs from Nashua to the North Country."
"Instead of continuing massive tax subsidies for the big oil and power companies, which Congressman Bass voted for repeatedly in Congress, we need to invest in safe, renewable technologies right here in New Hampshire."
Kuster outlined a five-point plan to grow a targeted 5,000 - 7,000 jobs in New Hampshire:
1. Pass comprehensive energy legislation that will provide incentives for businesses to use and produce cleaner forms of energy. Washington deadlocked on comprehensive energy legislation last week. Kuster will help change Washington and fight for national legislation that rewards the use and production of cleaner energy. Her plan protects middle class families by using rebates or tax incentives to prevent any increase in electricity costs.
2. Double federal support for research, development and demonstration(RD&D) of clean energy technologies. Kuster supports doubling our investment in clean energy RD&D to $8 billion a year[1], and making the existing R&D tax credits permanent. Both of these actions are critical to ensuring that the United States remains a leader not only in the creation of new clean energy technologies, but also in the development of new business and manufacturing processes that cut costs and increase efficiency in ways that speed the movement of new products from the lab bench to job-producing production lines.
3. Support clean energy manufacturing jobs by extending the 48C advanced energy manufacturing tax credit and expanding the use of the Department of Commerce's Manufacturing Extension Partnership program. The 48c advanced manufacturing tax credit, has already helped increase the production of clean energy products throughout the country and is estimated to have helped create nearly 60,000 jobs overall [2].New Hampshire excels in advance manufacturing and we can take advantage of those programs better than most other parts of the country.
4. Create Clean Energy Business Zones to take advantage of our state's existing clean energy employers. Based on the successful Empowerment Zone concept, Clean Energy Business Zones would provide $1.2 billion in tax incentives to create centers of excellence and innovation on clean energy technology that would help small businesses and entrepreneurs create jobs in New Hampshire communities from Nashua to Berlin [3].
5. Pay for these investments by shutting down taxpayer subsidies for the big power companies. We can save $45 billion in the next ten years by cutting special tax deductions, preferences, and credits currently received by multi-billion dollar oil companies alone, and another $20 billion in the next five years by preventing taxpayer-subsidized loan guarantees to new nuclear power plants [4].It makes no sense to continue these taxpayer-funded subsidies, especially considering the companies that receive them are some of the most profitable businesses in the world.
A 2009 study done by the UC-Berkeley's College of Natural Resources reported last year, New Hampshire stands to gain 5,000 - 7,000 jobs related to the clean energy sector based on passing comprehensive energy reform and making smart investments in safe, renewable energy technologies [5].
Kuster was recently endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters, whose President Gene Karpinski noted "Annie understands that the policies needed to grow New Hampshire's economy and keep America's competitive edge are the same policies that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil and curb harmful carbon pollution."
Born and raised in Concord, Ann McLane Kuster has a long history as a community activist, author, public policy advocate, and attorney with deep roots in the Granite State. She worked with New Hampshire colleges to create the UNIQUE 529 College Savings Program to help families save for their children to attend college, and worked with a coalition of health care providers to create the Medication Bridge Program that distributes free medication to New Hampshire families and seniors who cannot afford the high cost of prescription drugs. She has served as a board member or advisor to the NH Charitable Foundation, the Trust for Public Lands, Child and Family Services of New Hampshire, the United Way, and many other community groups.
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1] Norris, Teryn & Clifton Yin (June 29, 2010). "A Bipartisan Strategy for Energy Leadership." Huffington Post. Available:[2 The White House (January 8, 2010). "Fact Sheet: $2.3 Billion in New Clean Energy Manufacturing Tax Credits." Available: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-...
3] Freed, Joshua (October 2009). "Clean Energy Initiative: Clean Energy Business Zones." Third Way. Available:[4 http://www.americanprogress.or...
[5] Roland-Holst, David and Fredrich Kahrl (October 2009). "Clean Energy and Climate Policy for U.S. Growth and Job Creation." UC-Berkeley, College of Natural Resources. Available:http://are.berkeley.edu/~dwrh/CERES_Web/Docs/ES_DRHFK091025.pdf
