Washington, D.C. – Today, Mike Breen, Executive Director of the Truman National Security Project and spokesman for its clean energy campaign, Operation Free, released the following statement in response to the decision by Congress to extend the wind Production Tax Credit (PTC) by one year, as part of a larger fiscal cliff deal.
Operation Free played a critical role in achieving the PTC extension. The national coalition of veterans hosted two congressional fly-ins in October and November during which more than 65 veterans from across the country – many of whom have found jobs in the wind industry – visited more than 60 House and Senate offices to urge their members of Congress to extend the credit.
“The decision by Congress to extend the wind Production Tax Credit (PTC) is welcome news to those who are dedicated to creating a clean energy economy with good paying jobs here at home, including jobs for our veterans who are transitioning from the military into the civilian workforce."
“The PTC has played a critical role in the development of the wind industry and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, strengthening our economic and national security.”
“I commend Senators Chuck Grassley and Mark Udall and Congressmen Steve King and Jerry McNerney for standing with the veterans of Operation Free and leading the effort to pass this extension, and I thank all of Congress for taking action to ensure a cleaner, more secure energy future for America.”
The PTC provides an income tax credit of 2.2 cents/kilowatt-hour for the production of electricity from utility-scale wind turbines. The PTC has helped the wind industry expand and helps support more than 75,000 jobs.
