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Energy tax reform a heavy lift for lawmakers
April 12, 2013 by Darren Goode in The Politico

Congress is slowly but steadily drilling into energy policy tax issues, but anyone hoping to see detailed plans soon may be disappointed. "Like any good play, you have to set the scenes, and we'll see what happens in the final act," said Steve Nadel, executive director for the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

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

Obama seen giving himself wiggle room with call for permanent tax credit
April 12, 2013 by Nick Juliano in E&E News

The PTC's fate could be decided within the broader negotiations in Congress over how to overhaul the tax code for the first time since 1986. Lawmakers on the House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee have been meeting privately for months on the topic, and additional details are expected to be rolled out over the course of this year. But it remains an open question whether tax reform will become a reality.

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies| USA]

Merkel's no-nuke stumble may erode re-election support
April 11, 2013 by Stefan Nicola in Bloomberg News

Merkel's main opponent in the election, Peer Steinbrueck of the Social Democratic Party, is capitalizing on discontent with the energy switch. In December, he said at an SPD summit that Germans now live in fear of power outages because of government missteps. One month later, the SPD beat Merkel's CDU in a vote in Lower Saxony -- the third straight regional defeat for the incumbent party and a sign that its lead in the national election may be eroding.

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

Obama budget would increase U.S. clean-energy spending
April 9, 2013 by Andy Sullivan in Reuters

Republicans who control the House of Representatives have criticized Obama's clean-energy initiatives as wasteful boondoggles, pointing to the high-profile bankruptcies of companies like solar-panel maker Solyndra that benefited from federal backing. But the budget proposal signals that clean energy will remain a priority for Obama in his second term in office.

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies| USA]

Sanford, Colbert Busch differ on Clemson wind turbine stimulus money
April 9, 2013 by Schuyler Kropf in The Post and Courier

Sanford said he is not against government funding of research but said the stimulus package was billed as a "jobs" effort, and that the payoff wasn't worth what was advertised. "The question is, is that the way that we get our economy going?" he said.

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies| South Carolina]

Overlapping wind energy initiatives spark claims of waste, as IRS increases tax credit
April 8, 2013 in Fox News

"This labyrinth of overlapping programs has spawned a system in which a single wind project could have siphoned public funds from numerous federal and state programs," Daniel Simmons, director of state affairs at the Institute for Energy Research, wrote in U.S. News & World Report. "These include a Section 1603 grant, accelerated depreciation, a DOE loan guarantee, state tax incentives, and indirect subsidies from a state Renewable Portfolio Standard. Adding to the waste, GAO reports that states often design their initiatives to skirt double-dipping laws."

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies| USA]

North Carolina edges closer to repeal of renewable portfolio standard
April 5, 2013 by Felicity Carus in PV Tech

"What this bill does is try to soft land this business and to be competitive you need to move from government subsidy you need to move off the taxpayer rolls. I see this as an entitlement programme that is beginning to get its roots into our state. I see it as a regressive type tax." Hager's bill is part of a nationwide campaign to repeal state-based renewable portfolio standards.

Also filed under [ Energy Policy| North Carolina]

Wind industry in holding pattern, awaiting new tax rules
April 5, 2013 by Elias Hinckley in Christian Science Monitor

No one is exactly sure what it means to begin construction. There are some obvious assumptions that can be made, but at the edges, such as where a developer is contracting for facility components, the final vision or location of a project is not completely fixed, or instances where an adequate financial commitment is made to begin construction, the rules for qualification will be vital.

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies| USA]

Merkel Losing Allies in $700 Billion Shift to Renewables
April 5, 2013 by Stefan Nicola & Tino Andresen in Bloomberg News

With consumer power bills increasing and Merkel facing elections in September, Germany's energy policy is rising on the political agenda. The cost of developing wind farms in the North Sea has surged following construction glitches and delays in linking turbines to the grid. "The entire energy switch has derailed," Marc Nettelbeck, an analyst at DZ Bank AG, said this week by phone from Frankfurt. "The difficulties connecting offshore wind farms to the power grid reduces their profitability and renders the original investment calculations of utilities invalid."

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

Arkansas Legislature rejects renewable power mandate
April 4, 2013 by Alyssa Carducci in The Heartland

Observing that energy costs are a key factor encouraging or stifling economic growth, Taylor presented economic data showing renewable power is substantially more expensive than conventional power. Taylor also presented U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projections indicating renewable power will be substantially more expensive than conventional power for at least the next several decades.

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies| Arkansas]

NC renewable energy law diminished in House bill
April 3, 2013 by Gary D. Robertson in The Associated Press

A House panel on Wednesday narrowly approved an effort to scale back and ultimately repeal a 2007 law requiring North Carolina electric utilities to generate a percentage of their power through alternative sources and locate energy savings. The House commerce subcommittee voted 11-10 in favor of the bill that would cap renewable energy and efficiency requirements by power companies, electric cooperatives and city-owned electric utilities at roughly half the level the law ultimately demands.

Also filed under [ Energy Policy| North Carolina]

Subcommittee votes to reduce state support of renewable energy
April 3, 2013 by Molly Parker in Star News

A House subcommittee narrowly passed a bill Wednesday that chips away at a 2007 law that aimed to increase conservation efforts and renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and biomass. Rep. Chris Millis, R-Pender, one of the bill's sponsors, said the intent is to stop the burden of renewable energy subsidies and mandates on ratepayers.

Also filed under [ Energy Policy| North Carolina]

Divided Pamlico board rejects tall structures ordinance
April 3, 2013 by Charlie Hall in New Bern Sun Journal

Pamlico County commissioners voted down a proposed tall structures ordinance Monday that would govern wind farms and communication towers. The split 4-3 vote came after a public hearing ...While the wording covers towers, the gist of the ordinance was aimed at potential wind turbine farms, which were first proposed in Pamlico County this past August.

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning| North Carolina]

End wind power subsidy program, citizens tell Premier
April 2, 2013 in Wind Concerns Ontario

"The FIT program is affecting everyone in Ontario through higher electricity rates," said president Jane Wilson. "And it's not necessary. Coal is virtually gone as a power source. We don't need more expensive unreliable wind power, and Ontario electricity customers don't need to be subsidizing huge power corporations. End the FIT, now."

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies| Canada]

Exelon falls from green favor as chief fights wind aid
April 1, 2013 by Jim Snyder & Julie Johnsson in Bloomberg News

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

Sen. Lamar Alexander still tilting at wind energy
April 1, 2013 by Paul C. Barton in The Tennessean

"I will continue my efforts to get rid of the 20-year-old, multi-billion-dollar subsidy for unreliable, expensive wind energy that stands no chance of powering our nation's 21st century economy." ...Perhaps just as important, Alexander said, wind turbines would scar the mountaintops of Tennessee, the only place in the state where they can work.

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

States Cooling to Renewable Energy
March 28, 2013 by Ryan Tracy in Wall Street Journal

Mr. Sanford said he wrote the bill because he is opposed to government mandates, not because he favors any particular energy source-a sentiment echoed by legislators in other states. "Texas is blessed with a lot of incredible resources for energy, wind and solar amongst them. But they need to be developed with free-market principles, not with the heavy hand of government directing us to an inefficient process," he said in an interview.

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

US support for wind projects could be wasting federal funds: GAO
March 27, 2013 by Derek Sands in Platts

The US government has not justified its financial support of wind energy and that failure could lead to unnecessary federal spending to boost the wind industry ..."Federal support in excess of what is needed to induce projects to be built could instead be used to induce other projects or simply withheld, thereby reducing federal expenditures,"

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies| USA]

£286 green tax on energy bills: But ministers insist 'efficient appliances' will save us money
March 27, 2013 by Nick Mcdermott in Daily Mail

Energy Secretary insisted households will be better off due to initiatives but families will only benefit if they buy more efficient domestic appliances. Average bill is now £1,267 with £112 of that amount going on green taxes. By 2020 green taxes will have risen by over 150 per cent - £286 per family. Charity said government 'embarrassed by terrifying cost of green policies'. Claimed it is 'covering up' with a 'whitewash of wildly optimistic assumptions'.

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

Rural municipalities fight wind farms with high fees
March 22, 2013 by John Spears in Toronto Star

Bluewater's new law would impose a building permit fee of $14,000 per turbine on wind developments. The bylaw also imposes refundable security deposits totaling $420,000 per turbine for decommissioning, health and property damage, and legal fees.

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

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