Wind Energy

Wind power: Two more Colorado newspapers favor PTC extension

In a recent editorial, the Chieftain endorsed a PTC extension amendment proposed by U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kans.) to a transportation bill pending before Congress, and quoted U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton (R-Colo.) as supporting the amendment as well. Pueblo is home to a Vestas Americas Wind Technology wind turbine tower factory that employs 450 workers.

Commented the Chieftain, "This credit goes to the owners of wind turbines, meaning power producers such as utilities. Without the credit, the price of electricity they would be forced to charge would rise for consumers, so this is a consumer-friendly tax policy … We urge the bipartisan congressional backers of this measure to get support around the nation to keep the wind power credit for the foreseeable future."

The Greeley Tribune also referred to the wind power industry’s impact on local economic activity: "Generating energy through the wind is pretty big business in Weld County. Companies collectively employ thousands of our residents and pump millions into our county’s economy. That’s why we support the extension of the wind energy production tax credit."

A House bill seeking to extend the PTC has 72 cosponsors, including 18 Republicans, and has received the endorsement of a broad coalition of more than 370 members, including the National Association of Manufacturers, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the Edison Electric Institute, and the Western Governors’ Association. A PTC extension also has the support of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the bipartisan Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition, which includes 23 Republican and Democratic Governors from across the U.S.

Tom Gray, www.awea.org/blog