The federal Production Tax Credit (PTC) is an effective tool to encourage development of a proven renewable energy source. Equipped with the PTC, the wind industry has been able to lower the cost of wind power by more than 90%, install enough capacity to power the equivalent of 13 million American homes, and foster economic development in all 50 states. The PTC for wind is tax relief--not a subsidy. It only rewards results, and it doesn’t cost taxpayers a dime. The tax credit simply leaves more money in private hands--in this case, the hands of those who invest in producing renewable energy. Read more facts about wind power by visiting, http://www.awea.org/blog/. David Ward, American Wind Energy Association

The reason to invest in wind power, even when natural gas is cheap, is simple: portfolio diversification. Wind power uses no fuel, so a wind farm can provide electricity at a guaranteed price for 10-20 years, insulating utilities and consumers alike from fuel price volatility. That’s similar to why smart investors include bonds in their portfolios, even though stocks have a higher average return. Find out more facts about wind power and the Production Tax Credit (PTC) by reading “What Critics of Wind Power's Incentive Miss,” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/denise-bode/wind-energy-tax-credit-_b_1821279.html. Part 2/2 - David Ward, American Wind Energy Association

American wind power is an American success story. Wind energy creates thousands of jobs in the United States and economic boom times for rural communities all around the country. The wind industry currently attracts up to $20 billion in private investment annually, all driven by a simple tax relief program that more than pays for itself in taxes and other economic benefits from wind farms. Furthermore, the Production Tax Credit (PTC) is a credit based on the amount of electricity a wind farm produces—meaning no production, no tax relief. And a wind farm operator who generates electricity qualifies—there’s no evaluation by government officials. Part 1/2 - David Ward, American Wind Energy Association