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Tax break for wind energy sweeps forward in Nebraska Legislature
The state would be poised to gain a $300 million wind farm under a bill given resounding initial approval Wednesday. The measure would provide a sales tax exemption for the purchase of turbines, towers and other wind-farm components — a tax break that nearby states Iowa, Kansas and Oklahoma have parlayed into a wind-energy boom. [ read more … ]
Debbie Stabenow, Mike Pompeo spar over wind energy tax credit
“We got rid of the wind production tax credit. I worked really hard on it. We got rid of it for 23 hours,” Pompeo, a vocal critic of the tax credit, said during a POLITICO Pro’s Deep Dive on energy and taxes. “But in the Senate they snuck it in — in the dark of night.” [ read more … ]
AWEA’s Kelley says industry continuing to face tax incentive uncertainty
With uncertainty over federal tax incentives plaguing the wind energy industry through most of 2012, how did the industry fare last year and what are its short-term prospects for growth? During today’s OnPoint, Peter Kelley, vice president for public affairs at the American Wind Energy Association, discusses the future of the production tax credit for wind energy and the impact of the uncertainty he says his industry continues to face. He also addresses concerns in Congress that the wind industry is receiving too much federal assistance through duplication of incentives. [ read more … ]
Supporters trumpet bipartisan bill to establish renewable, fossil parity
A bipartisan group of House and Senate lawmakers today reintroduced a bill to provide parity between clean energy and fossil fuels in accessing a key investment vehicle, setting up the idea for inclusion in a major overhaul of the tax code that is gaining momentum on Capitol Hill. But even without comprehensive tax reform, which remains a heavy lift, sponsors say they will push the idea in isolation, pointing to broad support from both sides of the aisle, companies in almost every energy sector and members of the Obama administration. [ read more … ]
Renewable energy bill clears 1 hurdle in Colorado
A bill that would dramatically raise renewable energy requirements for Colorado’s rural cooperative electric associations has cleared a hurdle in the state House. [ read more … ]
Lobbyist for wind power apologizes to Vt. panel
A lobbyist for an industry group supporting wind power apologized to a Vermont Senate committee on Wednesday after a witness she brought in called health concerns connected with wind power “hoo-hah,” nonsense and propaganda Gabrielle Stebbins, executive director of Renewable Energy Vermont, called the remarks of acoustics expert Geoff Levanthall unhelpful and offered an apology to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee after Leventhall testified at the hearing by phone from England.
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Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.