Congress deals major blow to wind power industry

[jpak]

http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view/20120217congress_deals_major_blow_to_wind_power_industry/srvc=home&position=recent

CHICAGO - The wind industry is predicting massive layoffs and stalled or abandoned projects after a deal to renew a tax credit for wind production failed Thursday in Washington.

The move is expected to have major ramifications in states such as Illinois, where 13,892 megawatts of wind projects-enough to power 3.3 million homes per year-wait to be connected to the electric grid.

Many of those projects will be abandoned or significantly delayed without federal subsidies.

Illinois is home to more than 150 companies that support the wind industry. At least 67 of those companies make turbines or components for wind farms. And Chicago is the U.S. headquarters to more than a dozen major wind companies who wanted to take advantage of powerful midwestern winds and the fact wind power could be fed into the electric grid.

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The GOP has attempted to kill off alternative energy yet again.

Dems will bring it back.

yup

[elleng]

1. We ARE gonna get a Dem Congress back in November, right, guys???!!!!

[libinnyandia]

2. Just yesterday I read in DU an OP with extreme right wing Congressman Steve King extolling the

virtues of tax credits for wind projects, which have become very popular in Iowa. I guess he doesn't have much power (political power of course).

[kristopher]

3. The Pubs wanted to trade some new EPA rules on coal for the PTC

Dems said no.
http://www.nawindpower.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.9391

The wind industry and lots of jobs are going to be negatively affected, and given that King represents a sizable block of R legislators, I think the calculus might be that they can get this passed without trading anything for it.

I hope they are right.

[FBaggins]

4. Bad decision...

...but now a good electoral issue.


OTOH... I keep hearing that wind power is already at grid parity... so I'm sure it will be fine.

[Dead_Parrot]

5. Hands up who's surprised... nt