DES MOINES - There is little hope Congress will act quickly to extend a federal energy tax credit for building wind turbines, despite the likelihood that letting the program expire could lead to the loss of thousands of jobs.

The issue is especially important in Iowa, where 20 percent of electricity is generated by wind turbines and the state ranks second behind only Texas for installed wind capacity. An estimated 7,000 workers in Iowa are employed in more than 250 businesses associated with the wind industry.

Extension of the tax credit is caught up in deep differences over spending in Congress, where... [continue via Web link]