Governors' Wind Energy Coalition

Waning Support for Wind and Solar

DIANE CARDWELL • New York Times • Posted 2012-01-27 12:41:19

Assisted by technological innovation and years of subsidies, the cost of wind and solar power has fallen sharply — so much so that the two industries say that they can sometimes deliver cleaner electricity at prices competitive with power made from fossil fuels. At the same time, wind and solar companies are telling Congress that they cannot be truly competitive and keep creating jobs without a few more years of government support. [ read more … ]

Clock ticking for wind energy tax credit

Nathanael Massey • E&E • Posted 2012-01-27 12:41:46

Failing to extend the federal production tax credit, a financial mechanism meant to leverage renewable energy industries, would be a disaster for wind energy producers, industry leaders said Tuesday. Moreover, because of the relatively long business cycle required to secure permits, order materials and manufacture components used to build wind turbines, it is imperative that Congress act immediately, and not in the eleventh hour before the credit expires, they said. [ read more … ]

Wind group urges Congress to extend tax credit

Emily Yehle • E&E • Posted 2012-01-27 12:42:07

The wind industry renewed its call today for Congress to quickly extend a lucrative tax credit, pointing to new data that show a spike in development in 2011. The pressure comes as lawmakers begin negotiations to extend the Social Security payroll tax holiday — a package supporters see as a potential vehicle for the production tax credit. Set to expire at the end of this year, the credit grants companies that produce electricity from wind, solar, geothermal and certain plants a 2.2-cent-per-kilowatt-hour subsidy for the first 10 years of the facility’s operation. [ read more … ]

Obama touts Mich. wind turbine company, but skeptics question if there’s enough jobs payoff

• Associated Press • Posted 2012-01-27 12:42:24

A Michigan factory that made luxury yachts before the recession and diversified to add wind energy products when times got tough was touted by President Barack Obama at his State of the Union Address as an example of an industry creating forward-thinking jobs — with a little help from the government. [ read more … ]

Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead says it appears unlikely the Legislature will change new wind energy taxes

BEN NEARY • Associated Press • Posted 2012-01-27 12:42:42

Gov. Matt Mead says he’s given up hope that the Wyoming Legislature this year will roll back state tax increases on wind energy production and construction of wind energy projects. Wyoming began imposing a $1 per megawatt hour tax on wind energy production in January. This month, the state also began imposing sales and use taxes that generally exceed 5 percent on equipment used on wind energy projects. [ read more … ]

Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.

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	January 27, 2012
Waning Support for Wind and Solar DIANE CARDWELL • New York Times • Posted 2012-01-27 12:41:19 Assisted by technological innovation and years of subsidies, the cost of wind and solar power has fallen sharply — so much so that the two industries say that they can sometimes deliver cleaner electricity at prices competitive with power made from fossil fuels. At the same time, wind and solar companies are telling Congress that they cannot be truly competitive and keep creating jobs without a few more years of government support. [ read more … ] Clock ticking for wind energy tax credit Nathanael Massey • E&E • Posted 2012-01-27 12:41:46 Failing to extend the federal production tax credit, a financial mechanism meant to leverage renewable energy industries, would be a disaster for wind energy producers, industry leaders said Tuesday. Moreover, because of the relatively long business cycle required to secure permits, order materials and manufacture components used to build wind turbines, it is imperative that Congress act immediately, and not in the eleventh hour before the credit expires, they said. [ read more … ] Wind group urges Congress to extend tax credit Emily Yehle • E&E • Posted 2012-01-27 12:42:07 The wind industry renewed its call today for Congress to quickly extend a lucrative tax credit, pointing to new data that show a spike in development in 2011. The pressure comes as lawmakers begin negotiations to extend the Social Security payroll tax holiday — a package supporters see as a potential vehicle for the production tax credit. Set to expire at the end of this year, the credit grants companies that produce electricity from wind, solar, geothermal and certain plants a 2.2-cent-per-kilowatt-hour subsidy for the first 10 years of the facility’s operation. [ read more … ] Obama touts Mich. wind turbine company, but skeptics question if there’s enough jobs payoff • Associated Press • Posted 2012-01-27 12:42:24 A Michigan factory that made luxury yachts before the recession and diversified to add wind energy products when times got tough was touted by President Barack Obama at his State of the Union Address as an example of an industry creating forward-thinking jobs — with a little help from the government. [ read more … ] Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead says it appears unlikely the Legislature will change new wind energy taxes BEN NEARY • Associated Press • Posted 2012-01-27 12:42:42 Gov. Matt Mead says he’s given up hope that the Wyoming Legislature this year will roll back state tax increases on wind energy production and construction of wind energy projects. Wyoming began imposing a $1 per megawatt hour tax on wind energy production in January. This month, the state also began imposing sales and use taxes that generally exceed 5 percent on equipment used on wind energy projects. [ read more … ] Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.
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