Groups Push Back on Billion-Dollar Giveaways to Dirty Energy in GOP Tax Bill

One letter, signed by over 30 environmental groups, called for the end of attempts in Congress to expand a tax credit for coal- and gas-fired power plants (and industrial facilities) to capture and sell their climate pollution to oil companies to use in crude production. The tax credit is being sold to members of Congress as a climate solution, but if the giveaway goes through, it could be the nation's largest taxpayer handout to the fossil fuel industry, and lead to annual emissions equal to those from 12.5 coal-fired power plants. The groups also identified potential impacts of enhanced oil recovery to groundwater and inadequate oversight from EPA and states as reason to oppose the incentives for enhanced oil recovery.

The second letter, voicing opposition to expanding 45Q by more than 40 local, state and national groups, called on lawmakers not to overlook the disproportionate burden of the tax credit on frontline communities already most impacted by an expanding fossil fuel industry and unfolding climate crisis. It stated in no uncertain terms that policies that funnel billions of taxpayer dollars to extend the life of polluting power plants while also supporting increased oil production are not climate solutions.

"U.S. taxpayers already subsidize the fossil fuel industry to the tune for more than $20 billion every year. Now polluters want more money in the name of fighting climate change? It's a no-brainer. Subsidizing coal, gas, and oil companies is never a climate solution."

"It's unconscionable for Congress to contemplate billions in new handouts to Big Oil while our community is still recovering from a climate disaster. This tax credit is a win for the fossil fuel industry, but a loss for the climate, for taxpayers, and for fenceline communities, like ours, living in the shadow of fossil fuel infrastructure."

"It's unconscionable that Congress is considering to give even more of our hard earned tax dollars to the fossil fuel industry instead of investing in clean energy solutions to climate change. It simply doesn't make sense for our health, economic opportunity, and obligation to protect the planet for our kids."

"Instead of subsidizing fossil fuel extraction, Congress should be working to increase protections for our water and climate. Enhanced oil recovery puts sources of drinking water at risk and extends the life of dirty oil fields creating toxic wastewater and air pollution. Encouraging more enhanced recovery is especially problematic since oversight of oil and gas injection activities relies on outdated rules, and regulators lack the data, staffing levels and resources to ensure its safety."

"It is the height of absurdity to pay the oil and gas industry for waste to be used to produce even more dirty fossil fuels. We need expansive clean renewable options not more subsidies for Exxon-Mobil and their ilk."

"Our planet cannot afford to exploit any more fossil fuels, and our nation cannot afford to hand an additional $2.8billion per year to fossil fuel interests. We need to encourage renewable energy and energy efficiency and stop incentivizing fossil fuel investments that will only make climate change worse."

"We need to eliminate, not increase, subsidies to this form of drilling that threatens our drinking water. Dressing up this new subsidy as a climate solution makes it worse, not better. We need to transition away from fossil fuels as quickly as possible to protect our health and climate."

"Enhanced oil recovery subsidies would shoot climate action in the foot. Did Congress learn nothing from hurricane season this year? We need leaders coming together around real solutions to climate change: 100% clean energy and an end to new fossil fuel infrastructure."

"Carbon capture and sequestration is not now, and it never will be, a viable solution to our climate crisis. If we are going to have any hope of avoiding the worst impacts of climate change, Congress must stop wasting money on false solutions."