ALL WIND WANTS IS WHAT NAT GAS GOT

In a shale state, give wind power its respective due

Jeff Perkins, November 12, 2012 (Pennsylvania Patriot-News)

“…Shale gas [went from a billion cubic feet to 400 billion between 2008 and 2010,] has revolutionized the commonwealth’s energy industry…[and might provide] energy independence and economic growth, but that progress could come at the cost of our natural resources, our communities and our health.

“…Since the 1970s, the federal government has offered a combination of tax credits, subsidies and other policies that helped to forge today’s shale industry…[T]he ‘father of shale gas,’ George Mitchell, used funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to drill his first horizontal well...But in the enthusiasm over shale, have we provided a level playing field for other energy resources?”

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“During the last five years…[wind] has captured 35 percent of newly installed electricity generation capacity in the U.S…[and its production costs] are down more than 90 percent since 1980…Nine gigawatts — the equivalent of nine nuclear power stations — …is ready to be built in the coming years…[I]t’s looking much like the shale industry was a decade ago, but…inaction in Washington is threatening to derail this progress…

“…[Like] shale gas producers before them, wind power companies receive…[a] production tax credit [that] has helped to keep power prices low while enabling the wind power industry to reduce costs…[I]f Congress does not act, the production tax credit will expire at the end of this year, and the impact will be immediate and dire…As faith-based investors and members of the Investor Network on Climate Risk, we support the PTC…[I]f Congress values job creation, American industry, healthy communities and long-term, sustainable energy independence, we believe its choice is simple: Extend the production tax credit immediately.”

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