Citing potential impacts on their local economies, both the Aberdeen (S.D.) American News and Pacific Coast Business Times (Santa Barbara, Calif.) in recent days have joined a long list of newspapers around the country endorsing an extension of the federal wind energy Production Tax Credit (PTC).

In backing the PTC, the Aberdeen News pointed to local manufacturer Molded Fiber Glass, which makes wind turbine blades and employs 400 in the city.  Molded Fiber Glass, it added,

- ”Spends more than $2.82 million in South Dakota each year

- “Pays $1 million in property and sales tax each year

- “And has a $16 million annual payroll in Aberdeen.”

Said the editorial, “Not knowing the fate of the credit is keeping [the firm] from planning for the future … Supporting ethanol and oil is fine, in some cases, but a diversified strategy on energy production needs to include wind. Let’s see some leadership on this issue.”

The Pacific Coast Business Times, meanwhile, noted the presence in its area of consulting firm Infinity Wind Power, turbine manufacturer Clipper Windpower, and inverter manufacturer Power-One: “[T]he stakes for our area are not small. Indeed, with tax credits in place a number of area agribusinesses may want to take a plunge on smaller scale wind projects; many experts believe that four more years of tax credits should suffice to make wind competitive with conventional power—absent a total and extended collapse in the price of oil and natural gas.”

The publication also noted Republican political strategist Karl Rove’s statement of support for the PTC at WINDPOWER 2012: “In a rare display of bipartisanship, Rove, generally recognized as the architect of President George W. Bush’s campaigns, joined Robert Gibbs, a key confidant of President Barack Obama, in advancing the cause of a tax credit for wind power development.”