Washington, D. C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack will lead the push, along with a group of lawmakers, in calling for the passage of the Production Tax Credit for wind energy TOMORROW, November 14^th.  The lawmakers will take to the House floor to call on Speaker Boehner to bring up and pass legislation to extend the wind energy tax credit.

Loebsack has taken the lead in Congress to demand that Speaker Boehner act to ensure the jobs associated with wind energy, including 7,000 in Iowa, are not lost because of the inaction by the Leadership in the House.  Since the beginning of the year, Loebsack has met with personally with the President to encourage his leadership on this issue and stressed the importance of passing this legislation on multiple occasions with Speaker Boehner.

WHO:             Congressman Dave Loebsack

Group of Lawmakers

WHAT:           Call on Speaker Boehner to pass PTC

WHERE:         U.S. House Floor

WHEN:           Tomorrow, November 14^th

WASHINGTON - A bipartisan group of four governors and a U.S. senator today urged Congress to extend the production tax credit for wind energy, one of a number of tax incentives scheduled to expire at the end of the year.

Governor Terry Branstad (R-Iowa) joined Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on Capitol Hill in Washington for a news conference which Governors John Kitzhaber (D-OR), Sam Brownback (R-KS) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) joined by conference call.

The renewable energy leaders expressed optimism that Congress will approve an extension of the production tax credit for wind energy during the lame duck session that begins this week.

"Governors want to add perspective on the importance of extending the PTC," Branstad said.  "My state has directly seen the negative impact related to the PTC not being extended earlier.  For example, Siemans recently laid off over 400 employees at its plant in Fort Madison, Iowa, and Clipper Wind Power laid off 100 workers at its plant in Cedar Rapids, Iowa."

Grassley said the uncertainty about the future of this tax incentive and others "hurts the economic good these policies do, and Washington should have learned the lesson given by biodiesel when it was allowed to lapse two years ago.  "In addition to jobs being lost, an important source of domestic, renewable energy was hurt.  The wind-energy production tax credit is designed to level the playing field against coal-fired and nuclear electricity generation.  The credit has been tremendously successful for renewable energy development and job creation," he said.

"We need to invest in domestic energy sources that not only meet our energy needs, but create healthier communities.  We need to invest in energy resources that are clean and renewable, and affordable.  Few policies offer a better return on investment for our country than the wind energy production tax credit," Kitzhaber said.  "Nationally, the wind energy industry now drives $10-20 billion per year in private sector capital investment and employs 75,000 Americans.  These are jobs created right here in our own backyards that cannot be outsourced.

Branstad is chairman and Kitzhaber is vice chairman of the Governors' Wind Energy Coalition.  Brownback and Hickenlooper are members of the Coalition.

Grassley first authored the production tax credit for wind energy in 1992.  He has worked to extend it over the years and secured a one-year extension in legislation adopted in August by the Senate Finance Committee.  Grassley said no single energy tax incentive should be singled out over others before a broad-based tax reform debate.

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Locally-owned garden center's annual event coincides with "Small Business Saturday"

Coal Valley, IL - Corn Crib Nursery, celebrating its 40^th anniversary as a locally-owned, third generation family-owned garden center, welcomes area families to its annual holiday open house on Saturday, November 24^th from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at 6924 Route 150, Coal Valley, IL, just two miles from Quad City International Airport.

The event coincides with the national movement "Small Business Saturday." The full service garden center will have numerous opportunities for families to make new holiday memories while also thinking local.

For 30 years, a highlight of products available from the Corn Crib is its selection of in-house handmade wreaths. This year, the open house event will feature a children's wreath-making area for families to add an original touch to their holiday décor. Santa will be there too!

Add to that a selection of Fraser Fir trees as well as a wide selection of fresh greens and plants with expert staff available for personal service. It's all there at Corn Crib to make the holidays easy.

The Corn Crib Nursery began in 1972 as a seasonal, open-air market and sod farm. In 1980, the business constructed its first permanent buildings and became a year-round, full service garden center including design services.

Locally owned during its 40-year history, it now welcomes a third generation from the White family to the staff. The nursery is open Monday through Saturday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday. For more information, visit www.corncribnursery.com or "like" us on Facebook - Search: Corn Crib Nursery.

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