Tax reform can level the playing field in the energy market

There has been a flurry of tax reform activity in Washington over the last month, capping off with House Speaker Paul Ryan's speech during which he called for "transformational" tax reform that includes simplifying the tax code, lowering the corporate rate, and moving from a worldwide tax system to a territorial one. Such reform would boost the nation's economic and job growth, both of which have been sorely lacking over the last few years.

There can be no doubt that the federal tax code needs reform. For starters, U.S.-based corporations pay some of the highest taxes in the developed world with a combined federal and state tax rate of 39 percent. That rate, which is even higher for some smaller businesses, is nearly double the average of other developed economies.

The U.S. tax code is also notoriously burdensome, depriving businesses of valuable time and resources. All of these burdens restrain the formation of capital needed to grow America's economy.

But that's just part of the story. When it comes to energy, a sector that is helping drive economic growth nationwide, tax policy can be profoundly influential in investment decisions. As House Energy and Commerce Vice Chairman Pete Olson, R-Texas, explained at a hearing earlier this year on federal energy taxes and their effect on the marketplace, "Tax policy moves markets when it comes to energy. There are credits that give a leg-up to certain energy sources, while others are left behind."

He is right in that federal tax policy doesn't treat energy resources equally. According to data from the non-partisan Congressional Research Service, provisions used by the energy sector that reduce tax liability totaled $17.3 billion in 2016. The oil and gas industry's share was $2.8 billion, whereas the renewable energy industry, which produces a much smaller share of the nation's energy, benefited to the tune of $14.5 billion or 86 percent of the total.