Denver Post editorial writer: PTC extension 'important to nation, Colorado'

Denver Post editorial writer Alicia Caldwell underlined the newspaper's previous support for an extension of the federal wind energy Production Tax Credit (PTC) yesterday with a brief commentary on “The Spot,” the Post's blog.

Said Caldwell, “In Colorado, both U.S. Sens. Mark Udall and Michael Bennet support the extension. We have editorialized in favor of it. The credit provides important support for a new industry and the jobs it has created, and the credit is crucial to the country’s efforts to diversify its energy base. The boom and bust cycle that characterizes federal support for the wind industry is detrimental to long-term planning and investment.

“With gas prices on the rise, it’s more important than ever to continue to explore other ways of meeting this nation’s energy needs. It would be good for the country — and Colorado — if members of Congress saw it that way.”

In early February, seven members of Colorado's Congressional delegation, from both political parties, signed a letter to Sen. Max Baucus, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and Rep. Dave Camp, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, calling for a PTC extension. Those signing included Sens. Udall (D) and Bennet (D) and Representatives Diana DeGette (D), Cory Gardner (R), Ed Perlmutter (D), Jared Polis (D), and Scott Tipton (R).

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, the National Governors Association, and the bipartisan Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition, which includes 23 Republican and Democratic Governors from across the U.S. A PTC extension has been endorsed by a number of newspapers across the country in addition to the Denver Post, including the Houston Chronicle, The New York Times, and the Daily Oklahoman.

Further endorsements of the wind energy production tax credit.

Related articles:

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
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, 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
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Bipartisan group of Senators introduces bill to extend PTC
, March 16, 2012
Houston Chronicle editorial supports PTC extension, March 15, 2012
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, March 12, 2012
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, March 5, 2012
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, March 1, 2012
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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
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, February 23, 2012
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, February 23, 2012
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, 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
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, February 15, 2012
Oklahoma Gov. Fallin urges conferees: Extend the PTC
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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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