American Wind Energy Association

Wind and Solar Cheer US Election Results

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The American Wind Energy Association and Solar Energy Industries of America, the leading groups for the most important renewable energy industries in the country, were feeling pretty good in the wake of Tuesday’s elections.

Both groups issued press releases on Wednesday, with the AWEA putting its focus on the success of candidates who supported the production tax credit, which the organization now believes has a good chance of being extended before its Jan. 1, 2013, expiration, and the SEIA taking advantage of the opportunity to heap copious praise upon President Obama. Keep reading →

 /  Published November 9, 2012 at 10:30 AM

Wind Energy in the US: Record Breaking Growth at Risk

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The US wind industry is on track for a record-breaking year. In August, the American Wind Energy Association announced a milestone 50 GW of capacity and installations will this year beat previous records.

Matt Kaplan, US wind analyst at IHS Emerging Energy Research, estimates that 12 GW will be installed this year. Keep reading →

 /  Published September 21, 2012 at 2:00 PM

Wind Tax Credit at Center of Presidential Election Spat

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The scheduled expiration of a production tax credit for the wind industry has taken center stage in the energy policy debate between President Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

The credit, which allows taxpayers to claim 2.2 cents for every kilowatt hour of wind energy produced by a utility-scale wind farm, is due to expire on Dec. 31, 2012, a prospect that is already causing layoffs in the wind industry, according to its advocates. Keep reading →

 /  Published August 16, 2012 at 8:30 AM

Harry Reid Raises Hopes of Extending Wind Industry’s Production Tax Credit

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U.S. Senate Majority Leader U.S. Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) (2nd L) speaks as (L-R) U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), Senate Majority Whip U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL), and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) listen during a news conference July 26, 2012 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

Senator Harry Reid earlier this week gave the wind industry hope of a revival of a critical subsidy before the end of the year. Keep reading →

 /  Published August 10, 2012 at 8:30 AM

Renewables Want Level Playing Field

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Growth in renewables manufacturing is about to slow, and thousands of jobs will be lost, if Congress doesn’t level the playing field between renewables and traditional fossil energy sources, renewables advocates told the National Hydropower Association conference April 18 in Washington DC.

The wind, hydro and solar industries are all facing expiration of tax benefits that have allowed them to grow during the recession. Though the specific tax provisions vary, said NHA Executive Director Linda Church Ciocci, “We’re all in the same boat, and we sink or swim together.” Keep reading →

 /  Published April 23, 2012 at 9:00 AM

MISO Experts Address Importance of Wind in Transmission Portfolios

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Wind is an important aspect of utilities’ renewable portfolio standards and the Midwest Independent System Operator is committed to ensuring wind power is utilized efficiently and reliably. That is the message MISO President and CEO John R. Bear delivered to a recent American Wind Energy Association conference.

“MISO is committed to improving our ability to reliably manage all generation resources in order to continue providing the lowest-cost energy to our members and their customers. We look forward to working closely with state regulators to implement renewables as a significant aspect of our members’ renewable portfolio standard in an efficient and reliable manner,” said Bear. Keep reading →

 /  Published March 23, 2012 at 1:30 PM

Wind Industry Seeks Payroll Tax Lifeline For Renewable Energy Aid

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The US wind industry, seeking to prolong its decade-long construction boom, wants renewable energy subsidies added to any deal between Congress and the White House that extends a payroll tax cut through the rest of this year.

“This is our best chance to get this done,” says John Purcell, a vice president at Leeco Steel, a Chicago-area company that makes the steel used in wind-turbine towers. “It’s today, it’s this payroll tax cut bill.” Keep reading →

 /  Published February 8, 2012 at 11:30 AM

Wind Industry Nervous As Tax Credit Expiration Date Looms

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While for many its a time of celebration, this holiday season is making many in the wind industry nervous.

The production tax credit (PTC) for wind energy–the primary federal financial support mechanism for wind, which rewards developers and investors with 2.2 cents per kWh over 10 years–is set to expire in just about a year, on midnight December 31, 2012. Keep reading →

 /  Published December 13, 2011 at 5:00 PM

High Winds: AOL Energy Year In Review

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Fear for the future amid the plenty of the present characterized the wind industry in 2011.

The US wind power business is only just getting started with 43,461 MW of installed capacity as of the end of September 2011–3.25% of the country’s electricity–and more than 8,400 MW under construction. Keep reading →

 /  Published December 6, 2011 at 6:00 AM

Tax Break Tactics Divide Renewable Industry

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As Congress returns to Washington to battle over the fiscal 2012 budget, the wind and solar lobbies are scrambling to preserve the tax breaks their industries depend on–just not the same breaks.

Solar advocates say a special provision to allow conversion of investment tax credits (ITC) into cash grants, enacted in the 2009 stimulus, must be extended or solar investment will be halved. While the ITC continues through 2016, the conversion option expires at the end of 2011. Keep reading →

 /  Published August 31, 2011 at 6:00 AM
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