Governors' Wind Energy Coalition

The Senate Finance Committee began Tuesday what its chairman said he hoped was a cost-benefit analysis of the current tax incentives available to the wind energy industry.

“Our primary goal is to gather information that will give members of the Oklahoma Senate a better understanding of the cost and benefits associated with the current tax subsidy for wind power generation. In advance of this committee meeting research and data collection has already been accomplished to document the costs of subsidizing wind power. This data along with some comparisons with other states has been provided to all members of the Senate Finance Committee for their review,” Sen. Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa and chair of the committee, said in a prepared statement read at the meeting.

Mazzei was unable to attend Tuesday’s meeting and the proceedings were chaired by Sen. John Ford, R-Bartlesville and a member of the panel. Mazzei, Ford and Sen. Jim Halligan, R-Stillwater, requested Tuesday’s study, Interim Study S14-006, a discussion on state incentives for wind power generation.

Earlier this month, the House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Revenue, Taxation and Employee Compensation considered a similar study — Interim Study 14H-057, regarding the wind industry in Oklahoma, including, but not limited to the zero emissions facilities tax credits.

Reps. Marty Quinn, R-Claremore; David Dank, R-Oklahoma City; David Brumbaugh, R-Broken Arrow; and Terry O’Donnell, R-Catoosa, jointly requested that study.