As Congress debates how to solve the looming fiscal cliff, time is also running out for renewal of a tax credit promoting wind energy production.
Its end-of-year expiration date is creating a sense of urgency for Colorado lawmakers, and it鈥檚 bringing together some unexpected groups to back the cause.
One of the credit鈥檚 most tireless promoters is Senator Mark Udall. The Democratic lawmaker has made stressing the importance of extending federal incentives for wind power companies. On Wednesday, he joined both Republican and Democratic lawmakers to make yet another pitch.
鈥淎lready over the past several months we鈥檝e seen the real life effects of Congress鈥檚 failure to quickly extend what is a common sense tax credit,鈥� he said.
Colorado-based Vestas Wind Systems due to the uncertainty.
There are opponents of the idea like South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint unsuccessfully advocated to end all energy subsidies. But Udall says the layoffs alone should be a wake-up call.
To further his point Wednesday, Udall brought veterans now working in the wind energy industry into the discussion.
鈥淲e鈥檙e all here because we recognize that energy security is national security. We can鈥檛 project strength aboard if we鈥檙e weak economically here at home,鈥� he said.
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Across the country in Colorado other backers promoted the same concept from a different perspective Wednesday.
At in Fort Collins, Owner Doug Odell says the idea is important for him because more wind power means more water.
鈥淚f this company doesn鈥檛 have water, we鈥檙e out of business. Water is 90-95 percent of what is in every one of our products,鈥� he says.
Speaking at an event organized by , Odell estimates he used 8 million gallons of water this year in the brewing process. He said he started participating in the green energy surcharge in 1997 which promotes wind and other forms of alternative energy. He also built solar panels on a new addition to his factory in North Fort Collins.
Environment Colorado on how wind power frees up more water available for use. Unlike coal and gas fired plants that require a lot of the resource, wind power doesn鈥檛 any of it. And that鈥檚 especially important as the drought continues to worsen according to the group鈥檚 Margaret McCall.
鈥淥ur message to Congress is clear: don鈥檛 throw wind power off the fiscal cliff,鈥� she said. 鈥淲ater starved Coloradans simply can鈥檛 afford it.鈥�
Congress is expected to weigh in on the topic. The tax credit is currently attached to the so-called Tax Extenders Bill, which will be up for debate before the end of the year.
