PA DEP Secretary Hanger Speaks at REBN Mid-Atlantic Event in Philadelphia

The Renewable Energy Business Network, Mid-Atlantic Chapter (REBN) held its third event tonight, a sold-out show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center here in Philadelphia. The event was held in onjunction with the PV America Expo, hosted by Solar Energy Industries Association.

Pennsylvania's newly appointed Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, John Hanger, addressed the crowd, which represented a good mix of entrepreneurs, investors, and service providers working in the clean tech and renewable energy space.

Hanger spoke about the availability of state and federal funding for projects and companies in this sector and the importance of business leaders in the sector to speak up in the debate about the new green economy.

"There are some who would dismiss this movement," Hanger said. "And they have loud voices and large audiences. You must counteract their statements with facts."

Hanger also advocated for individuals to rally in support of things like House Bill 80, which would increase the proportion of electricity that electric distribution companies must purchase from renewable sources such as wind and solar to 20 percent by 2026.

But a show of hands through the crowd revealed that the community has a long way to go to influencing broader policies.

"You need to get to know the decision makers and let them know what's on your mind, that your businesses support Bill's like HR 80 -- the opposition is just to loud and has the ear of many in power."

He also shared his optimism for the region as a clean tech hub, suggesting that expanding Pennsylvania's Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards is a step in the right direction.

"Why wouldn't you want to get behind this, if it means jobs and revenue," Hanger remarked.

The Renewable Energy Business Network Mid-Atlantic Chapter enables business professionals, researchers, entrepreneurs and investors to connect with one another and to promote the growth of the renewable energy industry.

It hopes to catalyze efforts in the region and to spur further development in this sector. REBN believes the Mid-Atlantic region is poised to play a significant role in renewable energy, clean tech, and energy efficiency innovations in the years to come.

(Disclosure: I am a Founding Member of the Board of REBN Mid-Atlantic)

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Liars, Pimps, and Thieves. Congress Strikes Again.

Image via WikiIt's bad enough they pimped affordable housing and encouraged lending institutions to give excessive mortgages to people who couldn't afford them.

Then they played partisan politics with the financial markets and said to hell with Main Street. (Hey, I have problems with the bailout plan, too; I like Fred Wilson's suggestion on A VC last week.)

Now Congressional leaders are holding renewable energy tax credits hostage.

Who are these people and how did they get elected?

I'm not taking any party sides here, it's happening on both sides of the aisle. They are both to blame.

As The New York Times reported this morning, "The House and the Senate are caught up in a bitter fight over legislation to extend various expiring provisions of federal tax law. The tax breaks for renewable energy are not controversial. But in the current debate, they are tied to many other tax breaks for businesses and individuals, including an extension of the tax credit for research and development, expansion of the child tax credit and relief from the alternative minimum tax, which threatens to snare millions of middle-income families next year."

Tax credits for investing in solar energy and producing wind energy will expire in December unless the stalemate is broken. And that can lead to more jobs lost -- at a time when the country is facing massive layoffs associated with the collapse of the credit market.

Now is the time to act on something that can continue the momentum of investment in renewable energy and in the new green economy.

But instead, Congress is getting caught up in debate and posturing.

"Congress is furthering our dependence on foreign sources of energy — dirty, polluting sources of energy," Rhone Resch, president of the trade group Solar Energy Industries Association, told the Times. "It's scaring away investment, just as our industry is beginning to get a toehold. Solar projects are already being delayed."

The legislation also provides incentives for homeowners and home builders to adopt more energy efficient practices.

"Our members build homes that are significantly more energy efficient than those of a generation ago," Jerry M. Howard, executive vice president of the National Association of Home Builders, told the Times. "But in today's economic climate, home builders need incentives to spur them to even more action."

We need real leadership on this issue in Washington, but it is folly to expect we'll get it from the children playing playground politics in the two chambers.

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