U.S. Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) announced yesterday that he will make speeches daily on the Senate floor urging an extension of the federal wind energy Production Tax Credit (PTC) and helping to raise awareness of the wind power industry’s economic importance in many states across the nation.

According to the Pueblo (Colo.) Chieftain, Udall told reporters in a press conference call, “This ought to be a no-brainer … Without this tax credit, we’ll be outsourcing these jobs to China or somewhere else.”

In a news release, Udall expanded on his thoughts about the wind incentive: “”It is one thing for Congress to take the time to consider a new proposal and have an open, honest debate, but the Production Tax Credit is widely supported, will create jobs and has already helped our economy grow. Until Congress acts, businesses here and across the country will shed jobs and take our economy backward.  Americans have had it with dysfunction and inaction on Capitol Hill.  It is unacceptable for Congress not to pass this common-sense and badly needed piece of legislation.  I plan to remind my colleagues of that every morning until the Production Tax Credit passes.”

Udall said he plans to discuss the need for the PTC, how it affects each state, and the implications of failing to pass an extension.

The PTC has helped attract clean energy businesses to invest in the United States, including Vestas, which created almost 2,000 jobs in Colorado with new manufacturing facilities in Pueblo, Windsor and Brighton.  With Congress failing to act on the Production Tax Credit, investors have held back millions of dollars in capital and declined to make any new commitments–which is set to cost Colorado and the nation thousands of jobs throughout the wind energy sector.

Sen. Udall is inviting the public to sign a petition that urges the Senate to extend the PTC.  For more information, please visit his website.