Grow wind energy in our state

Wind energy has become a significant cash crop for Iowa farmers and landowners, but the federal government's inaction is threatening this economic driver by not providing stable, pro-growth policies.

American wind power provides tens of thousands of jobs across the country and supports our growing renewable energy sector. Here in Iowa, more than 6,000 people are employed in the development, manufacturing and operation of wind turbines and wind farms. Our state ranks third in the nation in total employment in wind power. Currently, the amount of electricity generated by the nearly 4,000 turbines can power up to 1.5 million homes.

Iowans, from our congressional delegation on down to the local county officials and individual landowners, have a long tradition of support for renewable energy. However, recent actions at the federal level make developing future wind projects difficult if not impossible. The federal Production Tax Credit (PTC) has been an important part of the regulatory and policy mix for wind development. The most recent expiration of the PTC occurred in 2014 and we saw the industry contract. A short, end of the year, last minute extension was enacted within the last two weeks of 2014, at least allowing projects already underway to be completed under the same tax policy as they were started. Congress has yet to enact a long-term solution to the ever-changing policy and tax structure for the wind industry resulting in horrific and unstable uncertainty within the industry. Our industry, like all industries, needs a stable tax and regulatory policy environment. As it currently stands, it is nearly impossible for the industry to plan and grow at a steady long term pace with the constant on again/off again federal policy. Projects take years to design and develop, while factories need to be able to plan employment levels and raw material needs far in advance in order to conduct business in an efficient manner.

The PTC has supported, and provides the pathway for thousands of wind projects across the country. Those projects provide billions of dollars of local investment, tens of thousands of good jobs, millions of dollars of annual income to local landowners, as well as more millions of dollars in local tax receipts to the local governments. All those payments and income streams far exceed the pump priming provided by the PTC and will continue to flow for 30 years or more. The PTC assisted wind farms are providing stable electricity prices for consumers across the state. Iowa is a national leader in production of wind energy, but our position can be compromised without the PTC. The PTC helps Iowa companies, employees, and consumers as we seek to provide a stable, affordable supply of energy to every Iowan.

More than 25 percent of our state's electricity is generated from wind turbines. The benefits of this clean renewable energy source extend far beyond the wind turbine manufacturers, landowners, consumers and county governments across the state. It displaces up to 8.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year and reduces some of the billions of gallons of water consumption that other energy sources must use.

Without the extension in the PTC, our industry faces economic uncertainty and economic uncertainty severely limits the willingness of investors to invest in new projects, young people to attend our community colleges to be trained as wind technicians, and manufacturers of components to expand and hire employees. The advancement of this renewable resource continues to be in jeopardy without a long-term stable policy in place. I have seen the positive impact wind power has on communities across Iowa, the billion dollar investments made by Iowa utility companies, new high tech business attracted to the State, idle factories reinvigorated, and thousands of permanent, good paying jobs created.

As Iowa continues to be a leader in the development and use of wind energy, it is critical that we have a long-term solution for the Production Tax Credit that supports our fellow wind industry partners. We encourage our congressional delegation to advocate for the thousands of Iowans employed in this industry and seek a responsible, long-term solution. Iowa is the first-in-the-nation caucus; let us use this opportunity to convey to the presidential candidates the importance of the wind energy industry here and the need for a stable regulatory environment. Our industry continues to grow, but without the PTC and other sensible regulations, the future growth of the industry and the economic engine that it fuels is in jeopardy.

' Kirk Kraft is a Project Developer for RPM Access LLC, a regional developer of utility-grade wind generation projects across Iowa and the Midwest. Comments: kkraft@rpmaccess.com