By Jack Z. Smith | The Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Wind energy leaders say Congress holds keys to future
DALLAS — Make no bones about it: Leaders in the fast-growing U.S. wind power industry believe that their prospects for success are tightly intertwined with policy decisions made in Washington, especially by Congress.
The American Wind Energy Association, holding its annual national conference at the Dallas Convention Center, wants lawmakers to take three major actions to boost the industry's long-term prospects:
Adopt a "25 x '25" national renewable-electricity standard, calling for 25 percent of electricity to be from wind power and other renewable sources by 2025.
Approve a long-term extension of the production tax credit, which provides the wind industry a subsidy of 2.1 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity it generates. The credit will expire at the end of 2012 if no action is taken.
Authorize a major expansion and modernization of the U.S. power grid to link wind farms, often located in remote rural areas, to major population centers, where power demand is heaviest.
link:
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/05/25/94760/wind-energy-leaders-say-congress.html