Nine U.S. Senators wrote to Senators John Kerry, Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham on April 17 calling for provisions to address manufacturing competitiveness that must be included in any clean energy legislation. The letter, led by Senator Sherrod Brown, outlines essential provisions necessary for clean energy legislation that strengthens American manufacturing competiveness, creates new opportunities for clean energy jobs, and creates a level playing field for domestic manufacturers.
“Our nation’s economic future depends both on our global competitiveness and access to reliable energy sources,” the senators wrote. “We must not allow our nation to become dependent on foreign clean energy industries or squander the opportunity to compete successfully in the global clean energy marketplace. A strong manufacturing base is crucial if the United States is to build the clean energy technologies of the future and achieve energy independence.”
The letter calls for a multi-pronged strategy to maintain and strengthen our industrial base and the millions of manufacturing jobs that are critical for our economic recovery. Specifically, the letter calls for legislation to: