Delays in renewal of federal credit could slow this green energy sector

While lawmakers offer numerous proposals to lower energy prices and
slow global warming, Congress still hasn't taken a small step to help a
clean source of power -- wind generators.

Electricity production
from wind farms soared 45 percent last year and now powers about 4.5
million U.S. homes without emitting any greenhouse gases that
contribute to global warming. But industry representatives say further
growth is threatened because a tax credit they rely on expires in
December.

"We're at a situation today when projects for 2009 are being put on
hold," said Greg Wetstone of the American Wind Energy Association.
"Here's something we can do right now that can have huge payoffs . . .
to promote major greenhouse gas reductions."

Indiana has one
working wind farm and two more in development in Benton County, one of
several Indiana counties with wind speeds strong enough to power large
turbines.

"Any effort at the federal level to encourage
investment in alternative and renewable energy is welcomed," said
Brandon Seitz, director of the Indiana Office of Energy & Defense
Development. "Indiana's wind resources and available transmission lines
have played a large role in attracting significant wind development."

Congress struggles to fund a one-year extension that will cost $3.5
billion to pay wind generators the credit for 10 years. The House
passed the extension in May, but the Senate has failed three times to
approve it this year.

"Now it's time to take quick action and
extend the credit because investors need certainty about tax policy
before putting additional money into wind energy," Sen. Chuck Grassley,
R-Iowa, said last month after the House vote.

On Tuesday, the
Senate failed again to approve wind power's tax credit, which was
contained in a larger package of tax provisions.