Our perspective: RedState errs in criticizing Moran
The political blog RedState carried an article yesterday criticizing U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran for his support of the federal wind energy Production Tax Credit (PTC). The following was posted as a comment:
The Production Tax Credit has been supported on a bipartisan basis in the past, and continues to receive support from both sides of the asle today.
As Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) points out, “The PTC means keeping investment dollars in the market place – not in the hands of government.”
The federal PTC is an effective tool to allow developers to raise private capital in the marketplace and bring renewable energy projects to completion. As well-known Republican advisor John Feehery recently wrote on his blog, The Feehery Theory: “Many conservative governors understand the stakes and are pushing for the extension of the PTC. Such stalwarts of the right like Sam Brownback, the Kansas Governor, and Terry Branstad, the Iowa Governor, signed onto a letter that urged the quick adoption of a PTC extension.”
Here are the facts. A PTC extension bill has the support of 70 House members – including 18 Republicans, four of which are on the Ways and Means committee. The PTC has also already contributed to more than $60 billion in private investment and 400+ manufacturing facilities across the U.S.
Additionally, pro-business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers, Edison Electric Institute and American Farm Bureau Federation also support extending the PTC.
[Finally, RedState mentions solar energy a number of times. The tax credit at issue here does not apply to solar.]
Related articles:
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
Governors' letter urges prompt extension of wind tax incentive, November 16, 2011