James M. Jeffords: “I enthusiastically join my colleagues in offering legislation that would allow wind and biomass energy to continue to…”

“I enthusiastically join my colleagues in offering legislation that would allow wind and biomass energy to continue to advance as commercially viable renewable energy sources. This legislation will allow wind and biomass energy to play a competitive role in the growing domestic energy market. Through the Energy Policy Act of 1992, Congress established a mechanism to increase investments in new or emerging energy technologies. In 2 years, this credit will expire. Companies developing wind energy, who require a 2-3 year lead time for installing new wind machines, were not able to take advantage of the available credit before it expired. Congress should extend the credit program to allow continued efforts to increase production of electricity from wind and biomass. To date, significant progress has been made in the development of wind energy, and this industry is poised to further increase its production capacity. With support from Congress through research and development funding and tax credits wind energy has become more competitive and the technology has improved in designs and operation. Generation costs from wind have dropped from 25 cents per kilowatt hour in 1980 to a low of 7 cents per kilowatt hour today for wind power. Investments in new technological improvements will further reduce the cost of this energy source and will enable the industry to play a key role in the new competitive electric utility environment.”