H.R. 6049, the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008, as reported by the Ways and Means Committee, extended the tax credits for wind and other renewable energies by one year, while also renewing several important research and development tax credits, and renewing the commercial and residential energy efficiency tax credits. This package was supported by over two hundred business, environmental, and utility groups. The tax credits would be paid for by delaying new interest allocation rules for multinational companies and changing the rules for taxing deferred compensation. Opponents maintained that loopholes closed by the bill amounted to tax increases. Representative McCrery (R-LA) sought to send the bill back to Committee with instructions that it be reported back without the offsets. Because conservative House Democrats would have resisted such a bill, this move was tantamount to killing the bill.

The motion to recommit was rejected 201-220 (House roll call vote 343) on May 21. NO IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE. After the effort to weaken the bill failed, the bill passed 263-160 (House roll call vote 323) on May 21. YES IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE. Congress finally extended the tax credits in early October.