Two leaders of a nonprofit organization based in Northwest Indiana were part of a larger group to speak with Congressional leaders in Washington, D.C., about tax incentives that may influence American jobs and technology.
Lorrie and Carl Lisek, owners of Purdue Research Park-based Legacy Environmental Services Inc., on Wednesday (March 28) joined clean fuel and vehicle industry leaders from 30 states to meet 170 members of Congress and their staffs. The Liseks also are executives of South Shore Clean Cities and Wisconsin Clean Cities, two of almost 100 coalitions comprised of government agencies and private companies to meet objectives of improving air quality, developing regional economic opportunities and reducing the use of imported oil.
"We are educating on the benefits for the renewal of recently expired alternative fuel and vehicle tax incentives," said Lorrie Lisek. "These incentives have leveraged billions in private investment to preserve American jobs and enabled vehicles powered by electricity, natural gas, propane, biodiesel, ethanol and hydrogen to take hold in the marketplace."
The group was organized by Transportation Energy Partners, an independent national nonprofit organization that brings Clean Cities coalition leaders together with the clean transportation industry to advance policies to reduce American independence on petroleum-based fuels.
"We must stabilize gas prices, increase energy security, create American jobs and offer real choices for businesses and families to power our vehicles," said Carl Lisek, who also is a trustee of Transportation Energy Partners. "Extending clean energy and vehicle tax credits is the fastest, easiest and most effective way to accomplish these critical national objectives."
Lorrie Lisek said the tax incentives have created measurable results.
"According to the U.S. Department of Energy, there are now more than 700,000 alternative fuel vehicles on the road in the country and 7,000 alternative fueling stations," she said. "The tax credits expired in late 2011, which threatens to halt the growing market for efficient, clean and cost-effective alternatives to petroleum-based fuels that are increasingly being employed by companies."
Carl Lisek described the focus of the meetings.
"We may never totally eliminate our need to import oil," he said. "But we are working with industry leaders to reduce the economic impact of pricing by reducing our demand."