January 21, 2009


The Honorable Charles B. Rangel
Chairman
House Committee on Ways and Means
1102 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Chairman Rangel:

I am writing on behalf of the more than 1,800 companies in the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) to express our strong support for the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009”and to thank you for including critically important provisions in this bill to ensure that renewable energy continues to grow through the economic downtown, creating tens of thousands of American jobs, even as we strengthen our energy security and help protect our planet’s climate.

As you know, the financial and credit crisis has hit the wind energy industry hard. Wind energy developers have announced plans to cut back projects by 25-50% in 2009 and several manufacturers of turbines and towers have announced layoffs. Your leadership and the Committee’s effort to help the renewable sector monetize tax incentives even in a down economy are critically important for the wind industry, as is the effort to provide stable long-term policies to support renewable energy.

We are, in particular, grateful for the Committee’s proposal to restructure the tax incentives for renewable generators, including the ability for wind energy generators to elect an investment tax credit in lieu of the production tax credit and to participate in a grant program administered by the Department of Energy. AWEA is also deeply appreciative of the three-year extension of the production tax credit through 2012. This longer term commitment will serve to provide growth and stability to the wind energy sector.

Thank you, again, for your continued support for renewable energy. We look forward to working with you to see this important legislation signed into law by President Obama.

Sincerely,

Gregory Wetstone
Senior Director of Government and Public Affairs

Cc: United States House Committee on Ways and Means