Leaders back wind energy tax credit

The fate of a tax credit that advocates say is needed to maintain tens of thousands of wind energy jobs will be decided during high-stakes, last-minute negotiations between President Obama and House Republicans over fiscal issues, officials said Tuesday.

The wind energy production tax credit is due to expire at the end of the year. Its extension stalled in Congress this summer amid fierce opposition from some conservative House Republicans. The last chance to extend the measure is in the budget deal that will be cut between Obama and Republicans in the lame duck session of Congress.

Backers of the credit tried to ramp up pressure to extend the $12 billion break Tuesday with a teleconference featuring several governors, who noted that uncertainty over its fate has led to thousands of job losses across the country. A study by a wind energy group found that 37,000 jobs would be lost if the credit expires.

The credit’s supporters say the government has subsidized fossil fuels like oil for more than a century. Opponents argue it distorts the energy marketplace and leads to higher prices.

The credit was first signed by President George H.W. Bush and backed by a number of prominent Republicans. But some conservative House Republicans objected to the extension of the latest form of the credit this summer, arguing it is wasteful spending. Their cause was taken up by the party’s presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, who argued the credit should expire. Elimination of the break was written into the GOP party platform in August.

Still, Republicans governors Tom Branstad of Iowa and Sam Brownback of Kansas joined Democratic governors on Tuesday’s call urging the credit’s extension. They said they represented a bipartisan group of 28 governors who back the tax break.

“It is time to turn the page on the recent election and work together to get Americans back to work,” Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber, a Democrat, said in a statement

Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan., who helped organize opposition to the wind tax credits, said the election results have emboldened him and other opponents to stand firm.

“There was a discussion in a lot of races around the country, and I didn’t see a single race in which consumers were demanding higher electricity bills,” Pompeo said. He added his opponent had attacked his stance on the credit, but Pompeo ended up winning the race by more votes than during his first campaign in 2010.

Wind energy companies already have started shrinking their workforces in the face of the gridlock.

Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas has reduced its U.S. workforce by 20 percent. The company announced last week it plans to cut its global workforce by another 3,000 by the end of next year due to uncertainty over the tax credit.

Mower County

Honoring service with warmth: Austin veterans presented with Quilts of Valor

Education

AHS graduates poised to continue their story

Mower County

Festival fun returns to Austin Mill Pond

Education

Two Austin grads among those who received scholarship money from CRC

Agriculture

Adams native one of two new interns at the Minnesota Farm Bureau

Mower County

New high-resolution structures of measles virus enzyme could lead to protective measures

Mower County

In Your Community: Duplicate Bridge

News

Trump administration puts Minn. counties on immigration ‘sanctuary’ watch list

Education

Pacelli among those institutions keeping an eye on potential state level cuts

Education

UPDATE: APS cancels last day at Ellis, IJ over ‘potential safety concern;’ AHS graduation unaffected

Crime, Courts & Emergencies

Man with alleged stockpile of weapons, ammunition charged with several counts of illegal possession

News

Former state trooper re-enters ‘not guilty’ plea in fatal crash in Rochester

Business

Hormel recalls canned beef stew product due to possible foreign matter contamination

News

Deadline approaching for filing claim in settlement over Minnesota’s tax-forfeited property sales

News

Sober house for military veterans with PTSD opens in southern Minnesota

Education

APS board seeks to find connection in search for morale answer

Business

Hormel Foods welcomes 95 interns for transformative summer experience

Mower County

Young Eagles Flight Rally scheduled for Saturday, June 7

Mower County

Brian Christianson honored during Minnesota State SE commencement

News

‘Crime of the century’ exhibit explores impacts of Lindbergh kidnapping

Brownsdale

Brownsdale Study Club: A good day to stay indoors

News

Veterans with PTSD turn to the outdoors to improve mental health

LeRoy

Fillmore Co. Sheriff: One dead in early Saturday morning fire in rural LeRoy

Crime, Courts & Emergencies

Teen airlifted to Rochester after being struck by a vehicle Saturday afternoon