Iowa coalition calls on Congress to renew PTC
The letter urged the legislators to "keep Iowans working and to continue promoting Iowa’s economic development, energy security and clean affordable electricity … " It added, "Thousands of Iowans depend on the wind industry to support their families through construction, manufacturing, operations and maintenance jobs. In addition, land owner easement payments to farmers exceed $11 million annually and are extremely important in trying economic times. Economic conditions have been made even more difficult by the drought conditions that threaten this year’s crop production."
Others joining the effort included the Iowa Chamber Alliance, the Iowa Farm Bureau, the Iowa State Building and Construction Trades Council, the Iowa Association of Community College Presidents, the Iowa Wildlife Federation, and many more.
The text of the letter follows:
September 13, 2012
The Honorable Charles Grassley
United States Senate
135 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Steve King
United States House of Representatives
1131 Longworth Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Tom Harkin
United States Senate
731 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Tom Latham
United States House of Representatives
2217 Rayburn Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Bruce Braley
United States House of Representatives
1727 Longworth Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable David Loebsack
United States House of Representatives
1527 Longworth Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Leonard Boswell
United States House of Representatives
1026 Longworth Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Iowa Congressional Delegation,
We, the undersigned groups and individuals, write to urge you to keep Iowans working and to continue promoting Iowa’s economic development, energy security and clean affordable electricity by immediately extending the renewable energy production tax credit (PTC). Action is needed to prevent expiration of the PTC at the end of this calendar year. Aided by the PTC, Iowa was the first state to generate almost 20 percent of its electricity from wind. Wind supports as many as 7,000 Iowa jobs, and millions in annual land lease payments to Iowa farmers. Iowa wind has also prompted $300 million in private investment in Iowa manufacturing facilities.
The wind industry in Iowa has diversified our rural economy. Since 1992, 2,978 wind turbines have been installed on 104 utility scale and community scale wind farms. Iowa now has 4,322 MW of electric generation capacity and 450 MW are under construction. This represents nearly $5 billion funneling through Iowa’s economy. Thousands of Iowans depend on the wind industry to support their families through construction, manufacturing, operations and maintenance jobs. In addition, land owner easement payments to farmers exceed $11 million annually and are extremely important in trying economic times. Economic conditions have been made even more difficult by the drought conditions that threaten this year’s crop production.
It is vital that Congress act now to avoid the looming tax increase on wind energy, as the economic damage has already begun. Without the certainty of the PTC, developers are cancelling projects because they cannot get financing. Consequently, manufacturers are faced with little or no orders for 2013. Layoffs have started.
Congress has the opportunity to stop further job losses and to halt economic deterioration in Iowa and throughout the nation. The payroll tax legislation now being debated in the both the Senate and the House offers a vehicle to extend the PTC. We respectfully request that an extension of the PTC be included in any tax overhaul policy.
This is not a partisan issue; it’s an Iowa jobs issue. We cannot as a state or as a country afford to let the PTC expire. With low taxes, wind power can continue to generate tremendous benefits – in jobs, investment and clean energy — to Iowa and the nation.
Sincerely,
Allen, Chaz – Jasper County Economic Development Corporation
Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services
ASFCME
Anemometry Specialists, Inc.
Beckman, Susan – Siemens Energy, Inc.
Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance
Cherokee Area Economic Development Corporation
Cherokee Industrial Corporation
Clean Air Muscatine
Clipper Wind, LLC
Conley, Elizabeth – Clean Line Energy Partners
Des Moines Area Community College
Dowding Industries of Iowa, LLC
Eastern Iowa Community College
EDP Renewables North America, LLC
Environmental Law and Policy Center
Geier, Michael G. – Snyder and Associates, Inc.
Greater Des Moines Partnership
Green State Solutions
Hawkeye Community College
Herrick, Chad – Atkins
Iberdrola Renewables
Indian Hills Community College
Iowa Association of Community College Presidents
Iowa Central Community College
Iowa Chamber Alliance
Iowa Environmental Council
Iowa Farm Bureau
Iowa Interfaith Power and Light
Iowa Lakes Community College
Iowa Move to Amend
Iowa Policy Project
Iowa Renewable Energy Association
Iowa Solar and Small Wind Energy Trade Association
Iowa State Building and Construction Trades Council
Iowa State University
Iowa Valley Community College
Iowa Western Community College
Iowa Wildlife Federation
Iowa Wind Energy Association
I-RENEW
Janssen, Dan – City of Sibley
Jones, Doug – Clean Line Energy Partners
Kirkwood Community College
Midwest Wind Resources
Northeast Iowa Community College
North Iowa Community College
Northwest Iowa Community College
Perrin, Brenda – Cherokee
Progress Iowa
Physicians for Social Responsibility-Iowa Chapter
Public Interest Research Group
RENEW Energy Maintenance, LLC
Southeastern Iowa Community College
Southwestern Community College
Stoffregen, Philip – BrownWinick
Sundblad, Phil – Crosswind Energy, LLC
Tipton, Sheila K. – Blein McCormick, P.C.
Transition Des Moines
University of Iowa
University of Northern Iowa
Vestas-American Wind Technology, Inc.
Western Iowa Tech Community College
Wind Consulting
Zinc Air, Inc.