The U.S. wind power industry said on Wednesday that it had a solid 2014, with 2,500 turbines capable of producing 4,850 megawatts put into operation, a big jump from 2013’s piddling gain of 1,098 MW. Plus, as the year drew to a close, nearly 100 projects totaling 12,700 MW were under construction. Pretty picture, right?… Keep reading →
The renewable energy sector is dynamic, with advancing technology and evolving policy. As 2015 beckons, here are some of the key questions that Portland, Oregon-based contributor Pete Danko will be asking as about U.S. renewables. 1) Is The PTC Winding Down or Dead? The wind industry won a small victory just before Congress went home,… Keep reading →
Congress this week passed the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014, which extends a number of expired or expiring tax provisions through the end of 2014. The President is expected to sign the Act soon. The Act renews several energy-related tax provisions, including the production tax credit under Section 45 of the Internal Revenue Code (PTC) for certain renewable energy facilities. In the case of wind, geothermal, landfill gas, trash, marine, and hydrokinetic facilities and certain closed-loop biomass, open-loop biomass, and qualified hydropower facilities, a taxpayer will be eligible to claim the PTC if construction begins before January 1, 2015. The Act also extends Section 48(a)(5)(C), which allows a taxpayer to claim the investment tax credit in lieu of the PTC with respect to the facilities listed above if construction begins before January 1, 2015.
Who wants to plunge deep into the dreary details of tax law, especially when doing so might get in the way of slapping a scarlet “B” for bailout on a renewable energy project? So it was that in the wake of our reporting on lower-than-expected production levels at the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System in… Keep reading →
Although the 30% business investment tax credit (ITC) for installing solar expires at the end of 2016, the window for taking advantage of the ITC is actually much sooner. Unless Congress extends the ITC – which is an open question at this time – business owners should begin planning now for solar projects to be… Keep reading →
First Wind CEO Paul Gaynor once likened federal tax credits to “heroin” for the wind power industry. And you know what happens when a junkie doesn’t get his fix. With the $1.1 trillion “Cromnibus” passed and sent on to the president, and the House home for the holidays, the Senate was left with “tax extenders” legislation that… Keep reading →
The tax credits – often referred to as subsidies – that help support US wind power development could be on the congressional chopping block. The US wind industry continually faced boom and bust cycles as the Production Tax Credit was renewed and allowed to expire several times in the past. A much hyped New York… Keep reading →
Tax reform talk is heating up in Congress as they hurry to pass a tax extenders bill before year end. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley wants the controversial wind energy production tax credit included in the bill. “I’m concerned about rumors that some are working to leave out or shorten the extension of the wind energy… Keep reading →
The leading U.S. wind energy industry group has to be creative when it comes to ringing alarm bells for a renewal of the Production Tax Credit. After all, it’s something they do every couple of years. Now, with the PTC already a year out of date and a presumably less renewables-friendly Congress waiting in the… Keep reading →
The Department of Energy’s new wind industry reports show modest growth in 2013 annual wind capacity additions and point to a more robust-growth in 2014-2015. On August 18, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) released two reports on U.S. wind industry trends in 2013. The reports show that the U.S. ranked second in the world in… Keep reading →
