Industry experts explore consequences of expiration of energy tax credits, 2 pm Nov. 29

Energy industry officials and advocates will outline the consequences of the expiration of renewable energy tax credits at a National Press Club Newsmaker event at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29, in the Zenger Room.

Tax credits for renewable technologies such as geothermal heat pumps, small wind projects and combined heat/power generation are scheduled to end on Dec. 31 unless Congress acts.

Doug Dougherty of GEO (Geothermal Heat Pumps), Lloyd Ritter of the Distributed Wind Energy Association,Dale Louda of Combine Heat & Power Association and Billie Kaumaya of the National Association of Home Builders will discuss the tax issue and what is at stake.

In last year’s omnibus legislative package, Congress negotiated an extension of existing energy tax credits in exchange for lifting the oil export ban -- but only for wind and solar technologies. Other technologies that qualified for energy tax credits were left out of the agreement.

This group of energy sources, often referred to as “orphan” technologies, collectively constitute the backbone of an all-of-the-above approach to energy production.

But if the tax breaks are scuttled, hydropower, geothermal steam power, combined heat and power, closed- and open-loop biomass, municipal solid waste power, geothermal heat pumps, fuel cells, microturbines and so-called “small wind” will all cease to benefit from tax credits that are viewed as essential to their continued roll-out and eventual adaptation on a commercially viable scale.

As with all Newsmaker events, this forum is open to credentialed media and Press Club members, free of charge. No advance registration is required.