D.C. bickering (GOP obstructionists) threatens solar, wind projects

[jpak]

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2008/08/05/20080805energy.html

Solar- and wind-energy projects in Arizona and around the country continue to hang in limbo after Congress adjourned for its summer recess without reaching agreement on legislation that would extend renewable-energy tax credits.

The subsidies are considered critical for projects like the Solana Generating Station, a $1 billion, 280-megawatt plant slated for construction near Gila Bend. But extending the tax credits beyond their Dec. 31 expiration date is proving to be a difficult, if not impossible, task for Washington's elected officials.

The subsidies, which have broad-based support in both the House and the Senate, provide a 30 percent rebate to anyone who installs or builds a solar- or wind-energy system.

But they've become the victim of an ongoing partisan logjam between Democrats and Republicans, who have disagreed on everything from how to pay for them to whether they should be prioritized over renewed offshore-drilling efforts.

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[phantom power]

1. I'm not worried.

Renewables have clearly arrived, being manufactured in multi-gigawatt quantities last year. Yanking their subsidies is no threat to them. They are also clearly at the point of large-scale manufacturing efficiency, so they are cheap.

[fascisthunter]

2. What Have Conservatives and The GOP Done for America?

Seriously? When I say America, I mean the average Americans and not the upper-crust minority.

[ElectricGrid]

3. sorry but this problem belongs to both the dems and pubs....

all the way back to Carter.