Wind Today - Q1 2008 - (Page 25)

WT POLICY: RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY CONSERV TION TAX ACT A Energy Bill Incentives May Have Another Chance When President Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act into law in late 2007, the bill no longer included a package of economic incentives providing for extensions of tax credits for wind, solar energy, and biofuels. Gregory Wetstone, senior director of governmental and public affairs for the American Wind Energy Association, Washington, DC (AWEA/202-383-2500), commended the passage of legislation that improves automobile fuel efficiency, but noted that critical work remains undone. “An effective energy policy for the 21st Century must include a strong commitment to renewable energy sources like wind and solar power,” says Wetstone. “Promotion of clean, domestic renewable energy through tax incentives and a national renewable electricity standard is crucial to our economy, our national security, and the protection of our planet’s climate,” Wetstone states. Important Incentives. According to Daniel J. Weiss, senior fellow and director of Energy Strategy; and Alexandra Kougentakis, research assistant, at the Center for American Progress, Washington, DC (202-682-1611), the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008, H.R. 5351, provides opportunity for congressional leaders to reinstate some renewable energy incentives. The new bill includes the Energy Independence and Security Act’s tax incentives for renewable electricity and fuels, energy-efficient technologies, cleaner cars, and clean coal. Some provisions have been omitted, Weiss and Kougentakis say, because a leaner proposal is more likely to secure bipartisan consensus and gain passage. H.R. 5351 will cost $18.5 billion which is $2.5 billion less than the cost of tax credits removed from the previous bill. Weiss and Kougentakis report that Some of the provisions in the new extending these two provisions can lead bill include: “An effective energy policy for the 21st •A Century must include a strong commitment production tax Gregor Wetstone egory to renewable energy.” — Gregory Wetstone credit for wind, geothermal, and other renewables that to completion of 42,000 megawatts of allots $250 million more than the previous planned renewable energy projects in bill and extends the credit to 2011. development in 45 states. • Renewal of the investment tax A study by Navigant for AWEA and credit for individual home owners and SEIA has estimated that 116,000 jobs businesses to maintain incentives for and nearly $19 billion in renewable solar energy through the end of 2016. energy investment are also at risk. Response No. 251 25 http://wecselectric.net http://wecselectric.net

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Wind Today - Q1 2008

Wind Today - Q1 2008 Contents Windpower 2008 U.S. Energy Map Canada Energy Map Global Report Options and Expectations for O&M Service Providers O&M Safety Issues for Wind Farms Guanting Wind Farm to Power 2008 Olympics Operating Economics of Wind Farms Long-Term Operating Costs Post-Warranty Energy Bill Incentives May Have Another Chance Wind Gears: A Closer Look at the Drive Train Elk River Wind Farm Should Lightning Be A Concern For Wind Farms? Interview: Steve Sawyer Zephyr Powers Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort WT News: United States & Canada Interview: Willett Kempton Centennial Wind Energy WT Transmission: Southwest Power Pool EPA's Top 25 Wind Power Projects 2008 RPS Update Mark Scher, MSE Power Systems Richard Legault, Helimax Second Wind Henkels & McCoy NRG Systems Apterra Technologies, Inc. Wind Resource Maps: Michigan and New York Calendar Glossary Product Surveys Ad Index

Wind Today - Q1 2008

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