Federal Wind Industry Subsidies in Jeopardy

The U.S. Senate rejected the extension of the federal Production Tax Credit (PTC) in February, March and April this year. Some Senators also tried to revive the million-dollar-per-turbine 1603 cash grants. The latest Senate debate tried to disguise industrial wind's PTC and 1603 funding as "ending subsidies to big oil". 

Jon Kyl (R-AZ) testified that oil companies already get less than the standard business deductions. Senator Lamar Alexander (R - TN) gave an excellent summary as to why the US should not fund industrial wind.  He borrowed heavily from his recent speech and interview with the Heritage Foundation. 

Meanwhile, Senator Charles Grassley (R - IA) said he was against the continuation of the 1603 cash grants, but supported continuation of the PTC. Often seen as a tough and thoughtful Senator, his recent disappointing display appeared to be 1/3 sock-puppet for the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA); 1/3 pretending that the dismal performance of the Tennessee Valley Authorities (TVA) wind project, outlined earlier by Senator Alexander, is unique and should be blamed on the ineptitude of the TVA; 1/3 denying there are downsides to wind such as massive bird killing. 

Grassley's stance is somewhat understandable since Iowa is either number 1 or 2 in the nation for installed industrial turbines and, therefore, getting more of the PTC and 1603 federal money than other states. However, Grassley, like Iowa's Governor Terry Branstad, have yet to illuminate where the vast majority of the federal money is flowing (Wall Street investment banks, European owned wind companies; and China manufacturors) and neither wants to mention the fact that forcing wind generated electricity onto the grid is simply one of the poorest ideas ever conceived.

The Coalition for Sensible Siting can find absolutely no benefit to industrial wind turbines as an electrical source - they are simply not in the public interest.

In December 2011, in an effort led by MN Congressman John Kline, the federal 1603 cash grants were not renewed.

An excellent article by James Hall explaining federal wind subsidies.

James McClanahan has an article in the Kansas City Star. 

Hopeful news for Americans who love freedom.

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A Hunting License for Bald Eagles?

Senator Lamar Alexander explained why the federal Production Tax Credit (PTC) for industrial wind is like "Going to War in Sailboats". In today's address at the Heritage Foundation, Senator Alexander mentions the AWA Goodhue project's application for an Incidental Take Permit (at 19:50) comparing it to a hunting license for bald eagles. He also mentions that oil companies have been fined for killing birds, but wind turbine owners have not.

Senator Alexander hits on three main themes:

1. There is no money.
2. Wind is unreliable.
3. Environmental damage.

“We hear a lot of talk about federal subsidies for Big Oil. I would like to talk about federal subsidies for Big Wind – $14 billion between 2009 and 2013, according to the Joint Tax Committee. And what do we get for these billions in subsidies? A puny amount of unreliable electricity that arrives disproportionately at night when we don’t need it. Americans are finding out that these are not your grandma's windmills. These gigantic turbines – which look so pleasant on the television ads paid for by the people getting all the tax breaks – are three times as high as football stadiums, taller than the Statue of Liberty, with blades as wide as a football field; you can see the blinking lights for 20 miles, and on top of that, these giant turbines have become the Cuisinart in the sky for birds. It’s time to end Big Wind’s big loophole.”
– Lamar Alexander

The Coalition for Sensible Siting agrees. Citizens have been oppressed long enough by tax and rate money being squandered through Big Wind. The eagles of Goodhue County should not be sacrificed on the alter of Green Greed.



Adult Bald Eagle photo by Kristi Rosenquist March 6, 2012



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