Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack today urged the Republican Leader of the Senate Finance Committee to not let politics harm Iowa's wind energy industry and include the Production Tax Credit (PTC) for wind energy in legislation to extend expiring tax programs. Despite the strong bipartisan support of the PTC, according to reports, political pressure from the Republican Presidential Nominee led Republicans to strip the critical job creating tool from the package.
"The PTC has strong bipartisan support in both chambers, including the entire Iowa Delegation. Congress should not let politics get in the way of taking action on a critical tax credit that is in the best interest of the country and the economy," said Loebsack. "Pulling the rug out from under an industry that has been striving successfully to employ Americans and provide clean energy during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression makes little sense. I respectfully urge you to act now to extend this critical job-creation tool, not let politics dictate policy on this important matter."
Loebsack has been a longtime supporter of wind energy. He has visited wind energy plants across Iowa to see firsthand the need for stability that an extension of the Production Tax Credit would provide and has repeatedly urged the House and Senate leadership to protect these good Iowa jobs. Loebsack was also named a USA Wind Champion by the American Wind Energy Association for his ongoing support of wind energy in Iowa and working to extend the PTC.
A copy of the letter can be found here.
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