http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120319/NEWS/203190306&cid=sitesearch
"Fixing this mess requires leadership not just words," Kerry said. "We could've gotten this done last week if folks on the other side of the aisle who have supported the tax credits forced their party's leaders to bend. Our industries took one on the chin and we need to get this right."
The measure introduced Thursday would extend the production tax credit for an additional two years. Wind-energy supporters have long argued that the tax credit should be extended on a long-term basis.
Since it was first passed in 1992, the production tax credit has expired three times making it difficult for wind energy developers to plan, Union of Concerned Scientists deputy legislative director Marchant Wentworth said Thursday.
"You can't turn off and on a supply chain and expect it to be on automatically," he said..
Nuclear and fossil fuels enjoy much greater and more stable subsidies than wind and other forms of renewable energy, he said. But, given the current political environment, even wind-energy supporters are preparing for the day when the tax credits permanently expire.
"We're not looking for some subsidy stretching out into forever land here," Wentworth said.
Wind industry advocates say the production tax credit is critical to save 37,000 U.S. wind manufacturing jobs that will otherwise be lost in the next year.
"Renewal of the (production tax credit) this year is vital for the wind industry," said Washington, D.C.-based wind industry lobbyist David Tamasi. "It's essential to protect jobs but also to allow for the expansion of wind energy here in the U.S."
Wind energy projects typically have a 10-month lead time for planning and development which is why there is such a push to extend the tax credit earlier in the year, Tamasi said.
This is the problem that you said doesn't exist Damo. I don't remember what thread it was in, but I told you I would provide proof.
"Fixing this mess requires leadership not just words," Kerry said. "We could've gotten this done last week if folks on the other side of the aisle who have supported the tax credits forced their party's leaders to bend. Our industries took one on the chin and we need to get this right."
The measure introduced Thursday would extend the production tax credit for an additional two years. Wind-energy supporters have long argued that the tax credit should be extended on a long-term basis.
Since it was first passed in 1992, the production tax credit has expired three times making it difficult for wind energy developers to plan, Union of Concerned Scientists deputy legislative director Marchant Wentworth said Thursday.
"You can't turn off and on a supply chain and expect it to be on automatically," he said..
Nuclear and fossil fuels enjoy much greater and more stable subsidies than wind and other forms of renewable energy, he said. But, given the current political environment, even wind-energy supporters are preparing for the day when the tax credits permanently expire.
"We're not looking for some subsidy stretching out into forever land here," Wentworth said.
Wind industry advocates say the production tax credit is critical to save 37,000 U.S. wind manufacturing jobs that will otherwise be lost in the next year.
"Renewal of the (production tax credit) this year is vital for the wind industry," said Washington, D.C.-based wind industry lobbyist David Tamasi. "It's essential to protect jobs but also to allow for the expansion of wind energy here in the U.S."
Wind energy projects typically have a 10-month lead time for planning and development which is why there is such a push to extend the tax credit earlier in the year, Tamasi said.
This is the problem that you said doesn't exist Damo. I don't remember what thread it was in, but I told you I would provide proof.
