Mark Udall: Fighting for wind jobs

The Ports-to-Plains Alliance is pleased to support the efforts of Senator Mark Udall, a member of the Ports-to-Plains Alliance Caucus in  highlighting to his colleagues and the American people the importance of extending the wind energy production tax credit (PTC) that expires this year.  Wind Energy creates manufacturing and production jobs throughout the Ports-to-Plains Alliance Region.

CALL TO ACTION:  Please take a moment to sign his petition.

Senator Mark Udall

June 13, 2012

Dear Fellow Coloradan,

This week I rededicated myself to something of a crusade in the U.S. Senate. I will go to the Senate floor every morning starting this week to highlight to my colleagues and the American people the importance of extending the wind energy production tax credit (PTC) that expires this year.

It has been frustrating to watch every proposal to extend the PTC founder in the Senate, especially given its broad bipartisan support. The PTC has helped attract clean energy businesses to invest in the United States, including Vestas, which created almost 2,000 jobs in Colorado with its manufacturing facilities in Pueblo, Windsor and Brighton.

Please help me convince my colleagues to save thousands of Colorado jobs by urging the Senate to debate and pass the Wind Energy Production Tax Credit.

Due to congressional inaction, investors have held back millions of dollars in capital and declined to make any new commitments – jeopardizing thousands of jobs throughout the wind energy sector in Colorado and the nation. The U.S. wind industry is still young, and in spite of its strong growth, the PTC is vital for the industry's continued success.

The PTC can play a significant role in nurturing new energy technologies – especially ones that make us energy independent. The PTC will help ensure that these innovative technologies are able to compete in the marketplace and become affordable for the public. This tax credit won't be needed forever, but it's critically important in the near term for our country to push renewables forward.

And if anyone doubts the importance of clean energy investments – they need only look at our competitors stepping into the breach: China, Japan and Germany. Countries around the globe are developing robust clean energy economies and jobs thanks to their support for these new industries. Now is not the time for the United States to cede our leadership and export jobs, investment and business opportunities overseas. And it's up to Congress to act. Coloradans are demanding it.

Join me on this mission. Sign my petition and let Congress know that thousands of jobs and our position as a global economic leader hang in the balance.

The benefits of the PTC are numerous – ranging from cleaner energy to job creation and the manufacture of new technologies – but the fallout from not extending this important tax credit are grave as well.  In the coming weeks, I plan to remind my colleagues every morning of just that until we pass the PTC. The price of doing nothing is too high.

Warm regards,