Contact: Roxanne D. Brown, 202-778-4384, rbrown@usw.org
PITTSBURGH - The United Steelworkers (USW) issued the following statement today in response to the Department of Energy's announcement of the recipients of the remaining $150 million in Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit (48C) funds.
"America's manufacturing sector is the largest, most productive and technologically advanced in the world," said USW International President Leo W. Gerard. "But for the U.S. to become a global clean energy leader and create and maintain good, family-sustaining manufacturing jobs, it needs policies like the Advanced Manufacturing Tax Credit."
Established under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA), the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit provides a 30 percent investment credit to U.S. manufacturers who make components for clean energy technologies and applications. Under ARRA, $2.3 billion in 48C credits were offered. The tax credit expired in December 2011, but in February 2013 the IRS announced the availability of $150 million in funds that were not fully used by previous awardees.
Gerard said that this credit helps to ensure the creation and development of an innovative clean energy supply chain in the United States, something that is absolutely necessary as 70 percent of all the component parts that make up U.S. wind, solar, biomass, and other installed clean energy systems are imported from other countries.
"This is unacceptable," said Gerard. "We have the ability to manufacture the steel, glass, aluminum, copper, gears and other component parts necessary for clean energy technologies right here in the United States. Our members are already doing this work and can continue doing so, if the right policies are in place."
The USW is very pleased to see several USW employers are among the recipients of the 48C funding including:
- Carrier Corporation (Indianapolis, IN): Awarded $5.1 million to expand production of energy efficient gas furnace
- Corning Incorporated (Erwin, NY): Awarded $30 million to expand the manufacturing of its diesel emissions control products - such as ceramic substrates and filters for heavy-duty diesel engine, truck, construction and agricultural equipment.
"As Congress looks to tax policy next year, we urge them to renew critical, job-creating and domestic manufacturing sustaining policies like 48C," said Gerard. "Without them, our nation's workers and industries will continue to fall behind the rest of the world in clean technology development. An additional $5 billion in 48C funding would support at least $17 billion in direct investment in clean energy manufacturing facilities, and thousands of jobs."
The USW represents 850,000 men and women employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in public sector and service occupations.
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