WIND’S FIGHT HEATS UP

Wind industry betting on PTC extension

Michael Copley, October 15, 2015 SNL

“Wind companies are continuing to plan projects that rely on the federal production tax credit…even though the incentive expired at the end of 2014 and there is uncertainty whether Congress will reinstate it…[T]he industry seems to have worked through the pipeline of projects that were rushed into development in order to qualify for the production tax credit's safe harbor provision, and…[companies have new deals ready to go if Congress reinstates the subsidy…If developers are betting wrong, they will have to mothball projects…But if they do not take the gamble, [they fall behind their competition]….That calculation illustrates the pressure industry lobbyists are under to win over lawmakers who have started challenging tax policy that historically has had bipartisan support…The Senate Finance Committee in July voted to reinstate the PTC, which credits developers $23 per MWh that a wind farm generates, as part of a larger tax-extenders bill. However, House Republicans would rather select a few of the expired tax breaks and make them permanent. The production tax credit has not been one of them…” click here for more

click to enlarge

Tweet