Finally, the Wind at Our Backs for Wind-Energy Manufacturing Jobs
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Dear Fellow Coloradan,
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VIDEO: Why wind PTC matters for ColoradoI started speaking on the U.S. Senate floor about the importance of the wind PTC to our country, starting with Colorado. I'm up to 15 speeches and 13 states. Watch video on PTC in Colorado. Colorado Voices on PTC
I asked Coloradans to sign a petition and say why they support the wind PTC. Over 5,000 signers responded. Here is what some of your fellow Coloradans said about extending the wind PTC: "Encouraging development of alternative energy will create jobs, preserve the environment, and improve the economy. It's a win, win, win!" - Robin M., Denver
"As an emerging energy industry it deserves the support the same that was given to coal, nuclear and oil and gas. We need to support the development of renewable energy and lessen our reliance on carbon fuels." - Ellen R., Evergreen "I believe we need to continue the PTC for wind power, not just because of jobs, but also because I think wind power has great potential as a source of energy which requires an initial investment in equipment but continues to generate energy without further natural resource depletion." - Jeanette M., Pueblo "On so many levels we need this passed. Jobs, economic recovery, environmental issues... the only reason it wouldn't pass is political and that's just not right!" - Lewis B., Englewood
MAP: PTC in the USA
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Great countries build things. And great countries make their own energy. Coloradans know this. We are at the epicenter of our nation’s all-of-the-above energy strategy, from solar to natural gas to wind.
However, our nation’s exceptional growth in the wind energy industry and the thousands of jobs it has created in Colorado and across the country are in jeopardy because of uncertainty over the future of the wind production tax credit, which sunsets in December.
Help me protect Colorado jobs and our wind energy industry by showing your support.
Our manufacturing sector and the thousands of good-paying jobs it has created – as well as our pursuit of true energy security through clean and renewable energy – are too important to be cast into the wind due to election-year partisanship and congressional gridlock. That is why I have been going to the Senate floor on a regular basis to encourage my colleagues to act on the wind Production Tax Credit.
And my efforts are starting to pay off.
The Senate Finance Committee took a step in the right direction last week when it included an extension of the PTC in its annual tax-extenders package. This legislation has been a long time coming, but there is still a long way to go before it passes the full Senate and House of Representatives, so I am not finished yet.
The PTC supports more than 75,000 jobs nationwide, including 6,000 here in Colorado. These are good paying, high-skill jobs that we need to fight to keep in the United States. I recently visited one of Vestas’s production facilities near Pueblo. The hundreds of workers there, who build the towers of wind turbines, are eager to see Congress give them the long-term certainty they need to see their industry grow, rather than shrink.
If Congress doesn’t act, other countries will step into the breach. Already we have seen China and other nations start to take our wind energy jobs because Congress is questioning our long-term commitment to energy independence and made-in-America manufacturing. Please join me in fighting for Colorado jobs and energy security by protecting the wind production tax credit.
Warm regards,
TAKE ACTION: Write a Letter to the Editor
You've already shared with me your reasons for supporting the wind PTC; now tell your neighbors. To show your support for extending the wind PTC, keeping manufacturing jobs in the United States and paving the way to energy independence, write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper.
Here is a sample to guide you in writing a strong letter:
Dear editor,
Congress needs to reauthorize the wind production tax credit. It creates jobs, brings businesses to Colorado and supports our pursuit of true energy independence. In Colorado alone, the wind manufacturing industry accounts for upwards of 6,000 jobs. If Congress does not reauthorize the wind PTC, these jobs could be outsourced to China or our other global competitors.
We sent our representatives to Congress to support jobs and help Colorado in the global economic race. I am urging my representatives to please pass the PTC ASAP.
Sincerely,
Your Name