www.windaction.org

Political standoff in D.C. hangs over wind jobs
November 4, 2012 by Sean Cockerham in Idaho Statesman

"Governor Romney believes the right path forward for the industry is to implement competitive tax and regulatory policies that create a level playing field and allow the best technologies to compete and thrive," she said.

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies| USA]

Study argues PTC unneeded, acknowledges short-term contraction likely
November 2, 2012 by Nick Juliano in E&E News

A new study funded by opponents of a key wind industry tax credit argues that the incentive should disappear this year because wind developers have a bright long-term future driven by state-level renewable energy policies.

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies| USA]

Talk of a Wind Subsidy ‘Phaseout'
October 29, 2012 by Diane Cardwell in New York Times

The wind industry, fighting to hold onto a generous tax credit set to expire in December, has been arguing that it does not need the support forever - just a little while longer, until it can compete with fossil fuels on its own.

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies| USA]

The high price of clean energy - Tax breaks and subsidies for industry divide Germans
October 26, 2012 by Jörg Schindler and Gerald Traufetter in Der Spiegel

The main reason for the increase in energy costs is the simple fact that generating electricity with wind parks and solar arrays is more expensive. But allowing so many exemptions is taking its toll as well, and a better solution is overdue -- especially because this envious discussion over who's paying and who's not has the potential to chip away at support among the general public for the transition to renewable energy.

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies| Germany]

GOP: 'War on wind' strategy fizzling
October 25, 2012 by Darren Goode in The Politico

President Barack Obama has been under fire from Republicans for supposedly waging a "war on coal." But Iowa and Colorado appeared to offer him a chance to turn the tables - letting him accuse Mitt Romney of declaring war on wind. ...So far, polls don't show the issue giving Obama a major advantage in either state.

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies| USA]

NextEra plans for post-PTC world; Even though it expects a short extension
October 25, 2012 by Bill Opalka in RenewablesBiz

NextEra Energy Inc. remains on track to set a record for new wind installations in 2012, putting its total about 10,000 MW. But the company said its NextEra Energy Resources until will see a significant drop-off in activity in 2013, even Congress extends the federal production tax credit (PTC) for wind sometime after the election.

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies| USA]

Industry group credits PTC for strong 3Q installations
October 19, 2012 by Nick Juliano in E&E News

Independent analysts project fewer installations next year, even if the credit is extended, because low natural gas prices are making it difficult for wind to compete in electricity markets and demand is slackening as state-level renewable portfolio standards are being met

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies| USA]

AWEA meeting to probe details of possible PTC phaseout, long-term policy needs
October 18, 2012 by Nick Juliano in E&E News

The overarching goal is to determine "what does the industry need to stay alive, basically," said one industry lobbyist familiar with the meeting ...Congress is expected to address the immediate fate of the PTC during a lame-duck session, although the future of the credit and myriad other issues largely hinge on the outcome of the elections.

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies| USA]

Ontario loses WTO ruling on green energy policies: reports
October 16, 2012 by Richard Blackwell in Globe and Mail

If the preliminary report stands, Ontario might have to dismantle parts of its controversial "feed-in-tariff" program that pays high prices to producers of wind and solar power, as long as they buy a certain proportion of their equipment in the province.

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies| Energy Policy| Canada]

Germany hikes electricity charge to finance renewables
October 15, 2012 by Richard Carter in Yahoo News

In total, the network operators hope to collect more than 20 billion euros to subsidise renewable energies. ..."The increase in this charge is manageable for many households, but there are also very poor, low-income households which could be negatively affected by this type of price rise," she said.

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies| Energy Policy| Germany]

Germans face hefty bill to end nuclear power
October 15, 2012 by Juergen Baetz in Associated Press

The country's four main grid operators said Monday that households will from January see a nearly 50 percent rise in the tax they pay to finance the switchover - from €3.6 cents to €5.3 cents ($6.7 cents) per kilowatt hour. A typical family of four will pay about €250 ($324) per year under the tariff, including a sales tax.

Also filed under [ Impact on Economy| Tax Breaks & Subsidies| Germany]

Merkel Curbs Renewables to Limit Voter Anger on Power Bills
October 12, 2012 by Stefan Nicola and Tino Andresen in Business Week

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to cap taxpayer subsidies for renewable energy is aimed at limiting the political fallout. ...Merkel's government, already preoccupied with tackling the debt crisis in the euro area, is struggling to justify the rising costs to phase out nuclear power and replace it with more expensive wind and solar plants.

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies| Germany]

Vestas Wind Systems lays off 200 workers at its Windsor blade factory
October 11, 2012 by Steve Raabe in The Denver Post

Wind-turbine manufacturer Vestas Wind Systems made its largest Colorado job cut Thursday, laying off about 200 workers at its Windsor blade plant. The cuts represent 29 percent of the plant's workforce. Vestas also had laid off workers at plants in Brighton and Pueblo.

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies| USA| Colorado]

California's renewable-energy plans may hinge on presidential race
October 11, 2012 by Evan Halper in Los Angeles Times

Experts differ on whether subsidies are the most sensible way to move toward cleaner energy and whether they are a good deal for taxpayers. But there is wide agreement that no state has used federal help more aggressively than California and that a sudden shift in direction by the White House would stymie the state's progress.

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies| California]

IRS says 'tax avoidance' at heart of Solyndra bankruptcy plan
October 11, 2012 by Jim McElhatton in The Washington Times

"The only reason for the shell corporation to exist post-confirmation is to enable its owners to exploit these tax attributes, which would be lost in liquidation," the IRS argued in court papers. One owner valued the so-called tax attributes at $150 million, dwarfing the $7 million to $8 million set aside by the reorganization plan for unsecured creditors.

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies| USA]

Wind projects stalled over tax credit uncertainty
October 10, 2012 by Will Brumleve in The News-Gazette

But deep differences over spending in Congress have made the PTC's fate uncertain. And that uncertainty has stalled wind farm development nationwide and led to cutbacks at major U.S. turbine manufacturing plants.

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies| USA| Illinois]

'Soviet-style' wind farm subsidies to face the axe
October 10, 2012 by Rowena Mason in The Telegraph

"There are significant impacts on the rural economy and the rural environment, all of which probably weren't intended when these things were thought up," he told an event at the Conservative Party conference. "It is not very green to be blighting the economy in one area." His comments came as Greg Barker promised that the Government was dealing with the "never-ending gravy train of green subsidies".

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies| UK]

Tough times ahead for wind industry, regardless of tax credit renewal - analyst
October 9, 2012 by Robert S. Eshelman in E&E News

The clean energy sector is closing the gap on fossil fuels, but the wind industry faces significant challenges and could see a free fall in new construction over the next three years, said Ethan Zindler, head of policy analysis at Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

Also filed under [ General| Tax Breaks & Subsidies| USA]

Do we need subsidies for solar and wind power? .
October 8, 2012 in Wall Street Journal

Mark Muro, a senior fellow and the policy director at the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution, argues in favor of the subsidies. David Kreutzer, a research fellow in energy economics and climate change at the Heritage Foundation, presents the case against them.

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies| USA]

Wednesday's pesidential debate: What happened to wind energy?
October 5, 2012 by Laura DiMugno in North American Windpower

What Romney considers "breaks" and "green" are up for debate. Despite his assertion that he supports "green energy," Romney has made it clear that he is in favor of letting the PTC expire ... Instead, Romney said the money invested in renewable energy and cleantech companies could have been better used for other purposes.

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies| USA| Colorado]

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