(DES MOINES) - Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today released a letter sent by a bipartisan coalition of lieutenant governors from eight states to congressional leaders supporting the Wind Production Tax Credit (PTC). Reynolds brought together the lieutenant governors of Colorado, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Rhode Island and Washington in support of an extension to the wind PTC.
The full letter can be found here.
"The wind energy industry is not only a source of renewable energy, but it is also a vital component of the Iowa and American economy," said Reynolds. "Over 6,000 Iowans are able to trace their employment to the wind industry. I am proud that my colleagues joined me to urge Congress to pass the Wind PTC extension allowing our states and the wind industry to continue harnessing American energy, creating jobs and expanding economic development in the process."
Lt. Gov. Joseph Garcia (D-Colo.), Lt. Gov. Yvonne Prettner Solon (D-Minn.), Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy ( R-Neb.),Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb (R-Okla.), Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts (D-R.I.), Lt. Gov. Matt Michels (R-S.D.) and Lt. Gov. Brad Owen (D-Wash.) joined Reynolds in signing on to the letter addressed to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Democrat Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
Without action from Congress, the Wind PTC will expire at the end of December.
In the letter the lieutenant governors state, "Without the PTC extensions, the U.S. economy will lose tens of thousands of jobs and the opportunity to leverage $10 billion of private investment." The letter continues, "Businesses in our states need the certainty of a PTC extension to encourage new capital investments, maintain their competitive edge of wind energy technologies, and create high paying jobs."
The letter concludes by pointing out the PTC enjoys bipartisan support from members of Congress, states and the private sector. Every member of the Iowa congressional delegation supports an extension of the wind PTC and Lt. Gov. Reynolds' letter is the latest action Iowa leaders have taken to show support for an extension.
The full text of the letter is as follows:
December 14, 2012
The Honorable Harry Reid
Majority Leader
U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
The Honorable John Boehner
Speaker of the House
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Minority Leader
U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Minority Leader
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Majority Leader Reid, Senator McConnell, Speaker Boehner, and Representative Pelosi:
We urge you to pass legislation that extends the wind energy production tax credit (PTC) scheduled to expire at the end of this month.
The United States enjoys some of the best wind resources in the world. The PTC has helped enable a fledgling wind industry to develop technological advances that are creating jobs, building state manufacturing bases, lowering energy costs, and promoting American energy independence. Today, nearly 500 wind manufacturing facilities are located in 43 states. America's wind energy industry has generated nearly $20 billion in private investment annually in each of the last five years. The growth in the wind energy industry has been matched with significant gains in efficiency; however, more time is needed for the industry to mature.
Uncertainty regarding the PTC's continuance has already reduced wind turbine orders, halted projects, and resulted in thousands of wind industry layoffs across the country. Without a PTC extension, the US economy will lose tens of thousands of jobs and the opportunity to leverage $10 billion of private investment. The effects of instable Federal policy can already be seen. In just two examples, Siemens laid off 407 workers at its blade manufacturing facility in Fort Madison, Iowa, and Oregon-based Iberdrola Renewables laid off 50 of its employees and canceled several US projects. Businesses in our states need the certainty of a PTC extension to encourage new capital investments, maintain their competitive edge of wind energy technologies, and create high-paying jobs. We are concerned about the impact of these layoffs and manufacturing reductions on the families affected and on our state economies.
The PTC has enjoyed bipartisan support from Members of Congress, states, and private businesses because it is a successful tax policy that reaps economic and energy rewards. We encourage you to quickly pass a wind production tax credit extension to help fuel high-tech jobs and domestic energy production.
Sincerely,
Kim Reynolds
Lieutenant Governor, State of Iowa
Rick Sheehy
Lieutenant Governor, State of Nebraska
Elizabeth H. Roberts
Lieutenant Governor, State of Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor, State of Washington
Yvonne Prettner Solon
Lieutenant Governor, State of Minnesota
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For more information, please visit www.ltgovernor.iowa.gov.
