Pollux
Active Member
This is not really on topic (though I try a little in the 3rd paragraph below), but since it came up:
The US federal tax credit was ORIGINALLY intended to simply level the playing field. [...] Sources: JOLT and conversation with a Plug In America volunteer that met with the DOE at the time.
I'm trying to find direct sources for the rationale that the credit was originally meant to "level the playing field". I had not heard of this rationale before and find it to be absolutely fascinating. I want to believe it. But -- no offense intended, @ChadS! -- I was hoping to find a source other than a volunteer who talked to you or the JOLT book. Admittedly, I have neither ordered nor read the JOLT book -- does the book provide a solid source for this rationale (i.e., not the book itself, but some contemporaneous record)?
Learning experience for me: tracked the original legislation down via govtrack.us.
Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 (2008 - H.R. 6049)
Unfortunately, there's no report of any of the discussion that went into the bill. Just, "here are the terms of your tax credit".
Anyway... truth to tell, I'm probably going to be using you, @ChadS, as my source for this claim, and going to be making this claim for the rationale going forward. But if you can point me to anything from the 2008 era that documents the rationale, I'd gladly take it.
Thank you SO MUCH for providing this analysis!!!
Thanks,
Alan
P.S. It's not like I'm going to press with this or anything. I just find myself involved in discussions from time to time, especially with some of the eco folks, and looking for ways to combat the "tax credit for the rich" point of view. Ideally, I'd like to be able to say, "analysis from the Congressional Budget Office in 2008, found at <URL>, provided the rationale for leveling the playing field".