Letter to TX Senators on Window Film Credit

I am attaching a copy of a letter sent to our Texas Senators on a pending energy tax credit bill:

July 27, 2010

Hon. Kay Bailey Hutchison

284 Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

Via Fax 202 224-0776

Dear Senator Hutchison:

I am writing to request your support to include a window film tax credit in energy tax legislation that Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) is crafting in Congress. As comprehensive energy legislation is further developed and ultimately considered in Congress, I strongly support the inclusion of language which would amend Section 25C(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code to expand the use of rational retrofit solutions (specifically, highly efficient window film) to improve the energy performance of many existing windows and doors.

Our film was installed on Washington DC federal buildings after 9/11 to provide blast protection, but they also serve a dual role of cutting cuts energy use and protecting homes and businesses from window breach by hurricanes, tornadoes, etc. Our films would have avoided millions of dollars in damages to coastal buildings caused by Hurricane IKE. In fact, our film saved homes on Galveston Bay that had installed it before the storm.

On top of that, our films are carbon negative – they save more energy than it takes to produce them. While past legislation has limited the tax credit to the more efficient double-paned windows, it is needed on single-pane windows as well to “armor” them from solar heat and storms. It does the same for double-paned windows.

Even NASA astronauts have used our film in their homes instead of relying on outdated plywood.

As you know, the American economy has been in turmoil for quite some time now. With the unemployment rate hovering around 9.5 percent and a faltering economic recovery looming over our heads today, many individuals and small business owners in my community continue to struggle to make ends meet. Cutting their energy use helps America cut back on importing foreign oil. In addition, installing energy efficiency products like our film also creates new jobs.

I believe it’s now more important than ever for the federal government to create economic opportunities and incentives for our nation, ultimately stimulating the economy and fostering greater confidence amongst consumers and small businesses.

In fact, taking such action at the federal level to enact a new window film tax credit is a rational step forward that should be part of any discussion related to improving our economy. As a small business owner in Houston, Texas, a tax incentive for the window film industry would help

to create and sustain thousands of manufacturing and retrofitting jobs in both the commercial and residential building sector.

Meanwhile, American consumers – from Florida to Hawaii – would see direct benefit from such action, as they would be well-positioned and encouraged to install window film on existing glass - an affordable, effective energy saving solution that provides much needed hurricane protection that works 24/7 and costs a fraction of expensive shutters and impact glass.

Taking into account the important role window film serves in terms of benefiting the American workplace and securing a clean energy future, I remain hopeful you will act expeditiously to pass a window film tax credit this year. I cannot overstate how critical it is for our elected leaders to embrace policies that put our country back on a path to stability.

Thank you for your attention to this very important request and I look forward to hearing back from you on this matter.

Sincerely,

Michael Fjetland, President

Armor Glass International, Inc.