Federal investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency is essential to support these burgeoning industries as our country transitions away from fossil fuels towards a new energy future. Clean energy and energy efficiency received significant support in the economic recovery package of 2009, which boosted these critical industries at a time of economic crisis. Unfortunately, the 111th Congress failed to enact additional policies that would further unleash the job-creation potential of these industries, either in the form of a comprehensive clean energy and global warming bill or a federal Renewable Electricity Standard. However, as the Congress drew to a close, senators were presented with a unique opportunity to invest in these industries.

During consideration of H.R. 4853, legislation to extend the George W. Bush administration tax cuts, Senator Bernard Sanders (I-VT) proposed an amendment that would reject extending the tax cuts for the top income earners and use the savings to help low-income families and invest in clean energy. The Sanders amendment would provide critical funding for state and local energy efficiency projects, tax credits for investments in clean energy manufacturing, and loan guarantees for clean energy projects.

On December 15, the Sanders motion was defeated by a vote of 43–57 (Senate roll call vote 275). YES IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE.