The Western Governors Association (WGA) called on Congress on Dec. 7 to extend the production tax credit for wind energy rather than let it expire at the end of December.
In a letter to U.S. House and Senate leaders, the WGA wrote that extending the PTC now is critical to achieving the country's clean energy goals, building the nation's manufacturing base, creating jobs, lowering energy costs and strengthening domestic energy security.
The governors note that in 2011 alone, the wind industry provided over 30,000 good-paying manufacturing, construction and other jobs in the Western states. Continued policy uncertainty, note the governors, will result in developers stopping turbine orders for installation beyond this year, leading to the further loss of American jobs.
‘While the PTC is vital to the near-term future of renewable energy production in the Western United States and across the nation, we agree that the credit should not exist in perpetuity,’ said Gov Gary R. Herbert, R-Utah, chairman of the Western Governors Association, and Gov. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., WGA vice chairman.
The governors note the short-term extension should be coupled with a broader conversation about revisiting all energy-related tax credits.
