Legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH) on Friday would help manufacturers and businesses cut energy costs, reduce pollution and revise the tax code related to the distributed energy generation market.
The Energy Tax Fairness Act, H.R. 5289, introduced by Stivers and U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA), would encourage the development of linear generation technology that can produce electricity from a range of fuel sources, including natural gas and biomass.
“I believe in an all-of-the-above energy strategy to encourage the production of traditional and renewable sources of energy,” Stivers said. “Our tax code plays an important role in allowing new and innovative sources of energy to come to market, and this bill will allow companies to compete on a level playing field. Additionally, the increased development of linear generation technologies will create jobs, enhance energy security and lower costs for Americans.”
The Energy Tax Fairness Act would amend federal tax code so that the development of technology in the distributed energy market has the same footing as the development of technology in other markets.
“As a representative from the Bay Area, the heart of American technology, I’m happy to support high-tech innovation in the energy sector,” Speier said. “We need creative solutions to address our pending energy crises and give our children a healthy future. Linear generators show that we don’t have to choose between profits and sustainable energy — we can have both. This bill ensures that this emerging technology will have the ability to compete on the open market without the fear of being unfairly punished by the tax code.”
Linear generation technology has commercial, industrial, public and residential usages. Generators can also be used to provide power in the event of electrical grid outages.