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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Blowing in the Wind: Tax Credit for Alternative Energy

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Tuesday, August 7, 2012   

PHOENIX - In a possible boost for wind-energy production in Arizona, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee has voted to renew a tax credit for wind power, with several Republicans joining Democrats in support of extending the credit for one more year at a cost of $3.3 billion.

Larry Thomas, general manager of Energy Hardware, which manufactures supplies for GE and others in the wind power industry, says renewable energies should be supported like the fossil fuel industry.

"There's permanent tax credits that have always been in place for coal and oil. Can we grab some of that that's already permanent? Can that be used over here on the renewable side?"

House approval of the wind power tax credits is not certain: that chamber's action will have to wait until Congress returns to Washington in September.

Thomas says even though the existing tax credit wouldn't expire until year's end, the uncertainty is stalling job orders.

Todd Thorner, vice president of Foresight Wind Energy, is developing two projects near Flagstaff with the potential of providing power to 150,000 homes. Thorner says the uncertainty about the tax credit means utilities that would buy the wind power are reluctant to sign new contracts, which is costing Arizona jobs in consulting and construction.

"These are large, $100 million-plus capital investments, that employ hundreds of people during construction and dozens of people directly and indirectly once they're up and operating."

According to the American Wind Energy Association, letting the Permanent Tax Credit expire would eliminate approximately 37,000 jobs nationwide.

Phyllis Cuttino, director of the Pew Environment Group's Clean Energy Program, says Congress needs to realize the impact this uncertainty is having on the market.

"Causing this kind of turmoil and uncertainty in a market is completely unnecessary. There have been really no new orders for wind, and that is going to have a significant impact on jobs."

Perhaps the bipartisanship surfacing around this issue in Washington shouldn't be a surprise: according to the American Wind Energy Association, more than 81 percent of the installed wind capacity in the U.S. is in congressional districts represented by Republicans.


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