Ed Markey: “I thank the Senator from Oklahoma. This final couple of days that we are going to be in session are very important…”

“I thank the Senator from Oklahoma. This final couple of days that we are going to be in session are very important because they are the days preceding the expiration of the wind energy tax break. It expires on December 31. There are energy efficiency tax breaks that expire on December 31. This is unfortunate, because these are industries that are rapidly growing. But let's take note here. If you are the oil industry or other older fossil fuel industries, your tax breaks are not expiring on December 31. For the wind industry, for the renewable energy industry, we have to come back out here every year and try to get those tax breaks renewed. Each year as we reach this December 31 date, we talk about a Congress adjourning without completing it, sending total corporate unpredictability out into the marketplace, knowing that we need to have a robust, competitive marketplace. Honestly, Adam Smith is spinning in his grave as he watches a Senate adjourn without continuing the tax breaks for wind, as the tax breaks for all of its competitive industries continue on year after year. They are permanent tax breaks. Actually, Adam Smith is spinning in his grave so rapidly that he would qualify for a permanent tax break, because he would be generating so much energy, wondering how can you have such inconsistency?…”