Broadening wind energy ownership by changing federal incentives

A policy brief by the name of "Broadening Wind Energy Ownership by Changing Federal Incentives" by John Farrel of the New Rules project clearly explains current issues with the Production Tax Credit (PTC) as well as the onerous SEC filing requirements. These two rules alone mean that only large corporations and organizations can easily take advantage of the benefits of small wind energy farms. A shame to say the least.

We have already seen in solar the value of small home based installations. We would hope small shared wind turbines would become a financially attractive solution. There are no active proposals to solve the entire problem but Representative Tim Waltz (D-MN) has proposed a first step. As originally written the PTC allows only a two cent credit. However given the amounts involved this adds up quickly and significantly which means that since it is only a credit, only those who owe a lot of taxes benefit. In addition this credit can only be an offset on passive income. Representative Waltz proposal begins by expanding at most $40,000 in credit to ordinary income. This alone could expand the number of potential investors or coop owners. Real the full brief here.

In the end though last year all wind got was a one year extension. Thus crating boom bust cycles for wind. Read more here.