18 House freshmen, including 16 Republicans, petition leadership for immediate PTC extension

Washington, D.C., June 27 — AWEA CEO Denise Bode issued the following statement today as 18 House freshmen, including 16 Republicans, sent a letter to House leadership requesting immediate extension of the Production Tax Credit (PTC) for American wind energy:

“I want to thank Rep. Kristi Noem and her 17 colleagues in the House freshman class for fighting for USA wind jobs. They understand that affordable, homegrown wind power is creating one of our best new sources of clean American electricity and tens of thousands of American manufacturing jobs in the process. The PTC is an example of effective, job-creating tax policy, but with expiration looming at the end of the year, 37,000 good American jobs are in peril. That is why Congress must act now to save USA wind jobs and keep this success story moving forward.”

Further facts about wind power:

Bipartisan support

–Supporters in both parties have been raising this issue since late last year as an urgent action item for Congress, including more than 100 cosponsors of HR 3307 (almost a quarter of them Republicans) and S 2201.
–The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers, American Farm Bureau Federation, and Edison Electric Institute are among over 400 organizations and companies endorsing the PTC extension.
–A bipartisan coalition of 23 governors led by Gov. Terry Branstad (R-Iowa) supports extending the PTC. Gov. Branstad recently wrote The Wall Street Journal on its economic benefits.
–Republican, Democratic and Independent voters broadly support wind power and its expansion.
–Highlighting the bipartisan nature of wind power was a recent dialogue between Karl Rove, former senior advisor to President George W. Bush, and Robert Gibbs, former Press Secretary and advisor to President Obama, at WINDPOWER 2012 in Atlanta, Ga. As Rove stated, “You don't need moderates to get this done. You need conservative Republicans who say this means jobs to my district and a resource we've got plenty of. And you need Democrats to say this is a way to expand the range of options that we have as a country for energy.”

The wind energy Production Tax Credit

–American wind power's key federal incentive (the 2.2 cents per kilowatt-hour Production Tax Credit, or PTC) only applies to projects that succeed in putting electricity on the grid. It will expire Dec. 31, 2012, unless Congress extends it.
–The PTC has not been allowed to expire since 2005, when President George W. Bush signed it into law as part of the Energy Policy Act.
–This successful policy over the past five years has incentivized $15.5 billion a year on average in private investment in the U.S. U.S. domestic content has expanded from 25% to over 60% today. Wind has installed 35% of all U.S. electric generating capacity, a close second to natural gas.

American wind power

–Using wind to generate utility-scale electricity was invented in America, and a vast U.S. resource of this clean, homegrown energy is still available to be tapped.
–Technological innovation and domestic sourcing has helped drive down costs of electricity for utilities and consumers, since transportation alone can be 20% of the cost of installing a wind turbine.
–Over 470 new American factories currently employ 30,000 workers in the wind energy supply chain from coast-to-coast. But orders for 2013 now hang on the tax credit's extension.
–Layoffs are beginning across the industry because of uncertainty over the PTC, with 10,000 jobs expected to be lost by year's end, and 37,000 job losses predicted within a year in a study by Navigant Consulting.
–On the other hand, Navigant said that with predictable policies, wind could grow to 100,000 jobs by 2016. And, the U.S. Department of Energy predicted during the Bush administration that wind could support 500,000 jobs by 2030, and make 20% of America's electricity.

“Wind projects typically have an 18- to 24-month development cycle. So effectively the PTC is already expiring,” said AWEA CEO Denise Bode. “That is why an extension is urgently needed now. We can't afford to wait until the PTC runs out. Extending the PTC already has broad bipartisan support, but Congress and the President need to act.  Let us finish the job of creating this industry.”

Further endorsements of the wind energy production tax credit.

Related articles:

Sierra Club's Hamilton backs PTC, American jobs, June 27, 2012
Loebsack receives USA Wind Jobs Champion award, urges PTC extension, June 26, 2012
Bode: Extend wind incentive now, June 25, 2012
Pueblo Chieftain backs Udall on PTC campaign, June 22, 2012
Leading House Republican calls for PTC extension, June 21, 2012
Iraq vet: PTC, wind energy make America safer, June 20, 2012
CEO, environmentalist call for PTC extension, June 19, 2012
Bingaman: Inconsistent U.S. energy policy leads to competitive disadvantage, June 18, 2012
Minnesota's Rep. Walz seeks PTC extension, cites 'homegrown American jobs,' June 15, 2012
Microsoft, Sprint join growing list of companies calling on Congress to extend PTC, June 14, 2012
With daily speeches, Sen. Mark Udall goes to bat for PTC extension, June 13, 2012
Kansas City Star: Gov. Brownback right to call for PTC extension, June 12, 2012
Aberdeen News, Pacific Coast Business Times join call for PTC extension, June 11, 2012
Sierra Club launches 'Wind Works' campaign, June 5, 2012
Fiberglass supplier worries about PTC extension, June 2, 2012
Pennsylvania newspaper joins in growing call for PTC extension, June 1, 2012
Sec. Salazar, Montana Gov. Schweitzer call for PTC extension, May 30, 2012
WindTV: ZF Wind Power's Georgia plant generates gearboxes and jobs, May 29, 2012

PTC extension passes milestone: 100 cosponsors in U.S. House, May 25, 2012

CEO cites wind power's benefits in urging PTC extension, May 24, 2012
As expiration of PTC nears, two major Pennsylvania wind projects cancelled, May 18, 2012
Support tax credit to help Ohio wind industry, May 16, 2012
PTC extension can avert boom and bust, May 15, 2012
Iowa newspaper endorses wind PTC extension, May 14, 2012
Toledo Blade becomes latest newspaper to endorse PTC extension, May 11, 2012
PTC, wind power bring cost savings to Iowa utility customers, May 10, 2012
N.Y. port sees action due to wind power, PTC, May 9, 2012
Tax payments to S.D. counties illustrate impact of wind tax credit, May 8, 2012
PTC extension part of 'all of above' policy, says sponsor Reichert, May 7, 2012
PTC extension: Why the stakes are so much bigger this year, May 4, 2012
Sen. Bennet: Congress 'not doing job' on PTC extension, May 3, 2012
Veterans training co. officer: PTC extension good for vets, economy, May 2, 2012
NW policy group: PTC helps lead to clean energy future, April 30, 2012
Congressman Thompson, veterans, industry experts call for PTC extension, April 27, 2012
Layoffs in U.S. wind power accelerate as Congress fails to act on PTC extension, April 26, 2012
Submit a comment to the House Ways & Means Committee: Extend the PTC immediately!, April 25, 2012
High-tech component manufacturer calls for PTC extension, April 24, 2012
Union leader: Earth Day is also about jobs, and a PTC extension, April 23, 2012
New graphics reveal impact of impending PTC expiration on wind industry, April 20, 2012
'Think globally, act locally': News items underscore PTC and manufacturing jobs, April 19, 2012
Senator Levin visits Michigan wind component maker, urges PTC extension
, April 18, 2012
Wind power drives strong interest in U.S. renewable electricity generation
, April 17, 2012
WindTV: WINDPOWER in Atlanta, spotlighting PTC expiration risk to manufacturing growth
, April 16, 2012
AWEA Annual Market Report underscores need for PTC extension
, April 13, 2012
Iowa city prospers, hopes for PTC extension
, April 12, 2012
Denver Post editorial writer: PTC extension 'important to nation, Colorado,'
April 11, 2012

From Nevada, Michigan, Montana: Calls for PTC extension
, April 10, 2012

Sierra Club, BP agree: Extend the PTC, April 9, 2012
South Dakota newspaper joins others in endorsing PTC
, April 6, 2012
National Governors Association: Extend the PTC
, April 6, 2012
Sen. Bennet tours factories, pushing jobs and PTC extension
, April 5, 2012
WindTV Holiday Special: Church lives mission with wind power
, April 4, 2012
Montana county commissioners call for PTC extension
, April 3, 2012
'Father of PTC' explains wind incentive's value
, March 30, 2012
Citing 'all of above,' former FERC chair urges PTC extension
, March 29, 2012
Manufacturers tell Senate panel: PTC extension urgently needed
, March 28, 2012
WindTV: Colorado county gets big boost from wind power
, March 26, 2012
Former Congressman Boucher sees PTC extension likely
, March 26, 2012
WindTV: Wind power breathes new life into small Colorado town
, March 21, 2012
Citing need for certainty, BP's Landis calls for PTC extension
, March 20, 2012
In op-ed, Kansas Governor, Senator call for PTC extension
, March 19, 2012
Bipartisan group of Senators introduces bill to extend PTC
, March 16, 2012
Houston Chronicle editorial supports PTC extension
, March 15, 2012
Southern Alliance head urges: Extend the PTC
, March 14, 2012
WindTV: Missouri manufacturer grows with the wind
, March 12, 2012
Oklahoma and America need wind technicians–and a PTC extension
, March 8, 2012
WindTV: An American family, powered by a paycheck from wind
, March 5, 2012
Salazar, citing 'race we cannot cede', backs extending PTC
, March 1, 2012
Kerry, Brown win praise for bipartisan support of PTC extension
, February 29, 2012
Wichita Eagle editorial blog endorses PTC extension
, February 28, 2012
Daily Oklahoman: PTC extension “makes sense,”
February 27, 2012
Bipartisan group of Illinois Representatives supports PTC extension
, February 24, 2012
Kansas City Star backs PTC extension, praises Brownback, Moran
, February 23, 2012
Bennet visits composites factory, urges PTC extension
, February 23, 2012
Moran visits Siemens factory, pushes PTC extension
, February 22, 2012
WindTV: PTC key to wind power manufacturing jobs
, February 21, 2012
Topeka Capital-Journal: Extend the PTC
, February 21, 2012
U.S. Rep. Steve King (R-IA): PTC is jobs engine conservatives should support
, February 17, 2012
Bennet, Moran continue bipartisan push to extend PTC
, February 16, 2012
Major U.S. consumer brands like Nike on extending the PTC: Just Do It!
, February 15, 2012
Oklahoma Gov. Fallin urges conferees: Extend the PTC
, February 15, 2012
Michigan worker's plea: Extend PTC, help wind power create U.S. jobs
, February 13, 2012
Bipartisan letter from entire Iowa Congressional delegation urges: Extend the PTC
, February 10, 2012
Senate Energy Chairman Bingaman: Act now to save clean-energy jobs
, February 9, 2012
Bipartisan letter from Colorado Congressional delegation urges: Extend the PTC
, February 8, 2012
Republican governors push for PTC extension; Senators express support
, February 2, 2012
U.S. Chamber of Commerce joins broad range of groups endorsing PTC extension
, February 1, 2012
WindTV: Wind power drives commerce in small-town America
, January 24, 2012
Denver Post endorses PTC extension 'sooner rather than later'
, January 18, 2012
WSJ op-ed: 'Want Growth? Try Stable Tax Policy'
, January 5, 2012
Red State Energy, Red State Jobs
, November 29, 2011

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