Two weeks ago, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) announced that he would attempt to pass an economic stimulus package independent from the House package. Last week, he pulled one together which proposed to extend the renewable energy production tax credit (PTC) for renewable energy. (Good move, Chairman.)

But for political reasons, the PTC extension is under serious threat despite the fact that in a slowing economy, renewable energy is a growing sector that, with the right steps, promises to create jobs and market growth.

Over the last week the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) has released a series of statements explaining that if the PTC lapses, 75,000 wind-related jobs will be at-risk. Monday, the AWEA and the Solar Energy Industries Association (both trade groups) released a study showing that combined, 116,000 jobs and $19 billion in investment will be lost if the PTC lapses.

So why is this package being opposed?

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