Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Culver Calls On Congress To Support Continued Growth Of Wind Energy
Production Tax Credit Will Ensure Industry’s Success
DES MOINES – Governor Chet Culver, along with 11 other Midwest Governors, sent a letter to Congressional Leadership asking that Congress extend the wind production tax credit (PTC) for up to eight years. The move would bring stability to the Midwest’s growing wind energy industry.
“With nearly 1000 wind turbines capable of powering nearly 250,000 homes, Iowa has become a national leader in the wind energy industry, bringing new jobs and opportunities to Iowa,” said Governor Culver. “We must ensure this industry’s continued growth, and this is why I call on congress to support the Production Tax Credit. This measure is vital to this industry’s future and will help make Iowa the wind energy capital of the country.”
Iowa currently ranks third in wind energy production, with more than 1000 wind turbines capable of producing nearly 1000 MW of electricity annually. In addition to TPI, Iowa is home to some of the biggest names in wind energy production, including Acciona Energia in West Branch, Clipper Wind Power in Cedar Rapids and Siemens Wind in Fort Madison.
Governor Culver has challenged Iowans to produce more wind energy, setting the goal of producing 2015 MW of electricity from wind by 2015. Studies project Iowa is poised to surpass this goal, showing Iowa will produce over 2000 megawatts by 2011.