The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) says that 16 Republican – and two Democratic – House freshmen have sent a letter to House leadership requesting the immediate extension of the production tax credit (PTC) for U.S. wind energy.
In their petition, the legislators write:
‘Many of us do not support permanent tax credits, and we would like to see the tax code overhauled to bring more transparency and fairness to all sectors of the economy. We look forward to working with you on this effort in the near future. However, if the PTC is allowed to expire before comprehensive tax reform, [the wind] industry will have already lost half its workforce, the manufacturing infrastructure and investor confidence it will need to survive on its own.’
The legislators continue:
‘We are committed to working with you and the wind industry to ensure that it is standing on its own two feet in the near future. But, in the meantime, it would be a disservice to our country's energy security to let an industry that has come so far suffer such a setback.’
According to AWEA, the petition is only the latest example of bipartisan support for the PTC. In fact, supporters in both parties have been raising this issue since late last year as an urgent action item for Congress. Further, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers, American Farm Bureau, and Edison Electric Institute are among over 400 organizations and companies endorsing the PTC extension, AWEA notes.
