Wind power: National Governors Association, Extend the PTC

Said the NGA, "Governors are pursuing a wide variety of strategies to promote job creation and economic development in their states. Continued development of renewable energy resources and manufacturing is an important component of these efforts. Renewable energy provides Americans with high-tech manufacturing jobs, secure sources of energy, and our states with crucial economic development opportunities."

Of the tax incentives, the group added, "Predictable tax policies provide a foundation for renewable energy development and can play an important role in our nation’s economic recovery … Creating jobs and securing our energy future must be a priority at both the state and federal levels. We strongly urge you to partner with states to support these industries as they continue to develop by passing legislation on a bipartisan basis to extend expiring renewable production and investment tax credits."

The letter was signed by Govs. Dannel Malloy (D-Conn.) and Dennis Daugaard (R-S.D.), who are chair and vice-chair, respectively, of the NGA’s Natural Resources Committee.

A House bill seeking to extend the PTC has 90 cosponsors, including 20 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, while a Senate bill to extend it was introduced March 15 by seven Senators, including three Republicans. 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