NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday February 28, 2008

Shadegg remains out of touch, objects to solar energy tax incentives

Rep. John Shadegg voted against solar energy tax incentives on Wednesday, opposing an opportunity to make Arizona a solar-power generation center in years to come. (http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll084.xml)

“No sooner does John Shadegg flip-flop on whether he wants this job, than he turns around and makes another out-of-touch vote,” said Emily Bittner, spokeswoman for the Arizona Democratic Party. “Since Shadegg thinks global warming isn’t real, I guess he doesn’t care about the rest of us, who are concerned about our dependence on foreign oil, our rising energy costs and our responsibility to be stewards of the environment.”

Plans are underway to build a 280-megawatt solar-thermal facility outside Gila Bend. The plant would be the largest of its kind in the world, able to power up to 84,000 homes in the state. These plans rely on the solar energy tax incentives, much like other projects around the country. (http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic)

“It’s been far too long that Shadegg has coddled big oil companies and neglected new energy opportunities,” Bittner said, pointing out that the Congressman has received thousands in contributions from Big Oil companies and their lobbyists. “Shadegg needs to support this effort to put Arizona on the forefront of energy independence.”