Investment Tax Credits (ITC) as Pork

Very happy that the ITC extension made it into a bill and signed into law by the Prez. But bummed that it took a national implosion to get the other side to call mercy on this and accept it being grafted onto the bailout bill - which could almost be called pork.

Luckily, this government largess will create thousands of jobs and encourage continued investment in solar and wind projects - leading us further toward a healthier, more stable energy regime. More detail on the ITC is offered by SEIA.

As Heather Clancy of ZDNet points out, solar leaders have been "plowing ahead without waiting for the government," but this added support will certainly help (as incentives have done for oil, gas, coal and nuclear for years). She cites projects like the one announced this week by San Domenico School and Recurrent Energy (a client).

Working with folks in solar, I have a vested interest, but this is the type of incentive that I want my government spending my tax dollars on. Let's right-size this government, shifting funding from "dirty" energy to cleantech.