Level the Playing Field for Renewables

January 2014 - Since 1980, Congress has allowed coal, oil, and natural gas producers to form Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs) to avoid paying corporate taxes on certain parts of their operations. The rationale is that these parts of the MLPs are partnerships of individual investors, and hence can "pass through" their income without paying the usual corporate taxes, and pay only the income taxes that they owe as individuals. 

Meanwhile, renewable energy producers have been denied access to these same opportunities. 

A bill with bipartisan support would, for the first time, allow producers of many types of renewable energy, including wind and solar power, to take advantage of MLPs to compete more equally for investors and low-cost financing. The Master Limited Partnerships Parity Act will help remove a key barrier that's currently inhibiting the development of renewable energy. 

Congress should level the playing field and give all sources of domestic energy— renewable and non-renewable alike—a fair and equal shot at success in the marketplace. 

Hundreds of groups have given their support to the MLP Parity Act which supports fairness, job creation, energy independence, and gives renewable energy companies a fair shot at giving the world clean energy that won't heat up our planet. This support comes from all across the board including manufacturers, utilities, financial institutions, environmental organizations, trade associations, and organized labor. 

Contact your Senators and Representative and urge them to co-sponsor the Master Limited Partnerships Parity Act (HR 1696 in the House, and S. 795 in the Senate). Tell them that we need to support fairness in our energy policies, jobs in the renewable energy industry, energy independence, and a means to curb the threats of climate change.

CONTACT:
YOUR SENATORS & REPRESENTATIVE
Web: www.senate.gov & www.house.gov
Tel: 202 224-3121 (Capitol switchboard)
Mail: Senator or Representative
(first & last name)
U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515 

Photo credit: NYC sunset from the Williamsburg bridge, 2013, Su Barber