RELEASE: Congressional coalition calls for economic recovery through green investments

WASHINGTON, DC -- Late last week members of the Congressional Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC)- a caucus of ‘green’ House Democrats- sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer urging them to undertake job creation policies through investments in energy efficiency, clean energy, and public resources projects.

SEEC co-chairs Reps. Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Steve Israel (D-NY) said that their group has been developing proposals for domestic job creation since before the Thanksgiving holiday. Their letter (viewable here) called specifically for focus on residential, commercial and industrial energy efficiency retrofits, increased investments and tax incentives for renewable energy, and funding for transportation, water infrastructure, and lands projects.

“We are investing our focus and energy in policies we know will create jobs,” said Inslee. “Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer have been incredible leaders in this effort. They understand how important this work is, for economic growth today and harnessing opportunity in the future. We have accomplished so much together this year and I expect that to continue as we focus on getting Americans working again.”

Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY), a vice-chair for the coalition, said that “We must make investments in the clean energy economy today – to ensure and grow domestic jobs quickly and take a hold of our energy future. I applaud the efforts of our coalition and look forward to continuing to offer proposals to put American families back to work.”

A newly-organized caucus of fifty-one members, the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition succeeded in including $90 billion in investments and tax credits for clean energy and efficiency in February’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. SEEC members also were integral in shaping and passing the House climate bill earlier this year.

In its letter, SEEC urged House leaders to consider the presented proposals as Congress undertakes legislation “to put America back to work and bring a substantive economic recovery to ‘Main Street.’” With recent announcements it is clear that President Obama and Congressional Democrats have focused their energies on policies that will create jobs and lower domestic unemployment.

Speaking to the Brookings Institution last Tuesday the President signaled that home energy retrofits, incentives for clean energy companies, and infrastructure investments will be among his priorities for legislation aimed at job creation.