The production tax credit on wind energy in the United States expires at the end of 2012, and a group of governors are among those pushing for its renewal in order to continue to encourage wind projects in the country.
The Governors' Wind Coalition is made of 28 governors from around the United States and is advocating Congress renew the tax credit, which went into effect two decades ago, The Hill reported.
Many believe the reelection of President Barack Obama will lead to an extension of the tax credit, The Christian Science Monitor reported, but it is still not clear if Congress will approve the measure. The American Wind Energy Association has pushed for a one-year extension, which would allow the credit to apply to projects beginning construction in 2013.
Opposing the renewal of the tax credit is the American Energy Alliance, which is arguing the credit "provides training wheels to an industry that doesn't need them," and taxpayer money should not be spent on wind energy development in the country, the Hill reported. It's estimated the tax credit will cost $12 billion over the next decade.