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Congress Gives New Life To Clean Energy Tax Credits

By Amelia Templeton (OPB)
Jan. 2, 2013 10:03 p.m.
The new production tax credit will only apply to wind farms that begin construction this year.

The new production tax credit will only apply to wind farms that begin construction this year.

Amelia Templeton / OPB

A last minute deal passed by Congress to avoid the fiscal cliff extended a key tax credit for the wind power industry.

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The tax credit has helped turn wind energy into a more than $10 billion industry in the Northwest. It expired on the 31st.

Wind farms cash in on the credit based on how much power they produce. They receive 2.2 cents from for every kilowatt-hour of wind energy they put on the grid.

The new production tax credit will only apply to wind farms that begin construction this year.

Rachel Shimshak directs the Renewable Energy Northwest Project, an advocacy group. She says it’s not the first time the credit has come and gone.

“Over time the production tax credit has kind of been an on-again, off again public policy. It’s a lot better to have policies that are long term in nature so that people can plan,” Shimshak says.

Congress also extended a tax credit for companies that produce biodiesel and fuels from wood, grass, and even algae.


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