SAN FRANCISCO \u2013 Phil Angelides, chairman of the Apollo Alliance, today released the following statement praising President Obama\u2019s decision to expand the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit by $5 billion, a move the administration expects will support an additional $15 billion in total capital investment in domestic clean energy manufacturing:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe president\u2019s decision to boost domestic job growth by expanding tax incentives for clean energy manufacturing facilities is another welcome sign that this administration is committed to making America a leader in the global clean energy economy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit program, which supports the building and equipping of factories to make the products of the green economy, has been wildly successful since its inception. This much-needed influx of funds will help maximize private sector investment in clean energy production facilities while generating tens of thousands of new jobs in construction and manufacturing.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven that 70 percent of America\u2019s clean energy components and systems are currently manufactured abroad \u2013 which means valuable, well-paying jobs that should be filled by American workers are instead going overseas \u2013 we need to seize every opportunity to enhance our ability to make the products of the clean energy economy in America and bring those jobs back home.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also encourage the president and Congress to make a long-term commitment to the country\u2019s clean energy manufacturing sector by including the provisions of U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown\u2019s Investments for Manufacturing Progress and Clean Technology Act in any jobs creation package. By doing so, we can ensure that America\u2019s manufacturers have the funds they need to become more energy efficient and expand into the global clean energy marketplace.\u201d<\/p>\n
In early December, the Apollo Alliance released a clean energy investment plan that, if enacted, would create up to 1.2 million domestic jobs while increasing U.S. energy security and climate stability. The 5-point plan, meant for inclusion in a larger Congressional and administration strategy to spur economic recovery and create jobs, focused on several areas the president has identified as key to short-term job creation, including transportation infrastructure, energy efficiency and renewables, and domestic clean energy manufacturing.<\/p>\n