As Congress prepares to consider tax extenders legislation at the end of the year, Senators and Representatives are preparing a number of letters in support of energy tax programs that will expire at the end of the year unless extended. A group of 88 House Democrats led by Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) sent a letter to Republican and Democratic leaders December 7 urging the extension of the 1603 Treasury Department Grant Program. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), John Kerry (D-MA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Mark Udall (CO) sent a letter to Senate leaders at the end of the week recommending an extension of the program as well as other energy measures such as the biodiesel tax incentive, the 48C manufacturing credit, and the wind production tax credit. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Tom Harkin (R-IA) are also leading an effort to save the wind-energy production tax credit.