Lack of PTC jepordizes thousands of wind energy jobs

Despite bipartisan support for the extension of the federal wind energy Production Tax Credit (PTC), it does not appear that the PTC is included in the payroll tax legislation currently being finalized.

Without it, thousands of jobs in the wind energy industry could be lost. Even such corporations as Nike, Campbell Soup, and Yahoo are calling for a speedy extension of the tax incentive.

"The stakes here could not be clearer. Economic studies have shown that Congressional inaction on the PTC will kill 37,000 American jobs, shutter plants and cancel billions of dollars in private investment," said American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) CEO Denise Bode, in a statement. "Congress needs to understand that, with PTC uncertainty, layoffs have already begun and further job losses and even plant closings will accelerate with each month we near expiration in December."

Legislation extending the PTC now has 70 co-sponsors including 18 Republicans and four Republican members of the Ways and Means committee. The AWEA, a national trade association for the U.S. wind industry with more than 2,500 members, hopes that this broad support base will make them well-positioned to get the PTC extended as soon as possible.

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