Officials from the U.S. Departments of State, Energy and Agriculture spoke today about the accomplishments of the WIREC conference, but during the press briefing, one representative charged democrats in congress with stalling critical renewable energy legislation.

When asked about the president's threat of a veto of legislation that bundles extension of investment and production tax credits with the removal of oil industry subsidies, Andy Karsner the Assistant Secretary in the DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, said congressional democrats are to blame.

Karsner said that Congress continues to "ornament" the legislation for extensions of the tax credits with unrelated provisions for small business "that the president has to veto." He accused democrats of trying to score political points in an election year and asked that they "stop holding the candy hostage" because the lack of the renewable provisions was "causing manufacturers heartburn."

Karsner said republican Pete Domenici proposed adding the tax credits to the recently passed stimulus package, but democrats voted it down. He said President Bush has consistently supported extending the tax credits, but needs to receive legislation that is "uncontroversial and uncontested."

The tax credits, which allow companies to invest in and produce renewable energy, are seen as critical because many companies won't purchase solar and wind energy unless they are assured of receiving the credits in future years.

Perhaps the democrats should simplify the legislation to just the renewable tax credits and ending the oil subsidies to test the administration's commitment.

During WIREC more than 40 nations made 100 pledges for adopting renewable energy and increasing their energy efficiency. More than a quarter of the commitments came from within the U.S. Paula Dobrinsky, the Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs said the island of Cape Verde pledged to use only renewable energy in the future, becoming free of fossil fuels for power production. The City of Bellingham Washington, promised to buy 100 percent of its energy from renewable resources, she said, and New Zealand will move to 90 percent renewables by 2025.

Karsner said collaboration between the various federal agencies -- including State, Commerce, Agriculture, Energy and the EPA on renewable policies and actions -- has been the greatest accomplishment of WIREC for the government. Agencies are talking to each other like never before and are working hard to develop consistent energy policies that will spur the adoption of renewables.