Wind energy tax credit vital to economy

To the editor:

Thank you, Kirk Kraft. Your guest column 'Continue federal wind energy tax credit” on Sept. 23 is spot on.

The Iowa wind energy industry employs well over 6,000 workers. We have manufacturing, operations and research supported by this growing economic bright spot in Iowa. Yes, I did just say research.

I recently attended the Wind Energy Industry Symposium at Iowa State University. The amount of industry-sponsored, cutting-edge research on making wind energy more reliable, safer and cost effective is amazing. All right here in Iowa. Unfortunately, this progress is in jeopardy. We all need to support wind industry growth by learning the economic impact to our state, then speaking to our congressional delegation. So I ask our senior congressional delegation member, Sen. Chuck Grassley, please use your experience developed over 42 years in Washington, D.C. to lead our state and the nation to pass the Production Tax Credit, which is vital to our economic growth.

To delay the passage puts Iowa businesses (and research facilities) in peril. We all need to stand up for wind. Thank you, Mr. Kraft, for raising this important issue.

John Boorman

Urbandale