Klobuchar, Bennet, Blumenauer Introduce Legislation to Promote Use of Wind Energy

Press Release

Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduced legislation to modernize and extend the small wind investment tax credit (ITC) to help farmers, ranchers, and small businesses offset the up-front costs of developing and owning small wind turbines that generate electricity. Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR).

While small wind turbines allow farmers, ranchers, and other consumers to cut their energy bills and, at times, sell power back into the grid, existing law limits eligibility to projects with a single turbine at or below a 100-kilowatt limit. These limits prevent farmers, ranchers, small businesses, and others from utilizing distributed wind models that provide for alternative deployment models such as subscription-based or shared-ownership programs.

The Rural Wind Energy Modernization and Extension Act would update and expand the small wind ITC by:

Striking the existing 100-kilowatt nameplate limitation for small wind systems and expanding the maximum wind turbine size to 10 megawatts.
Changing the definition of small wind to "distributed wind energy property" to ensure that innovative small wind models qualify for the credit.
Extending the ITC to cover 30 percent of a project's cost until 2028, before phasing-down to a permanent 10 percent, which will ensure that distributed wind technology achieves equity with other renewable energy investment tax credits and is given time to grow and deploy across rural America.
"As small wind technology has grown over the past decade, federal renewable energy tax policy has failed to keep up with its expansion and is stifling further innovation," said Sen. Klobuchar. "This legislation will provide stability and certainty for the small, distributed wind market while helping Americans take advantage of clean, renewable, and affordable power."

"Colorado is leading the nation's shift to a clean energy economy, with cutting-edge developments in renewable energy technologies like small wind turbines," said Sen. Bennet. "The Rural Wind Energy Modernization and Extension Act will drive greater investment in our state and make these turbines more affordable and accessible for rural communities and energy consumers alike. This bill will provide better federal support for innovators in our energy economy and fuel economic growth in rural communities."

"As the primary author of the small wind investment tax credit, I've seen the transformational impact of existing policies and recognize the need to take the next step under a new and supportive administration," said Rep. Blumenauer. "The Rural Wind Energy Modernization and Extension Act will unlock the necessary investment to grow our global leadership role in distributed wind energy. This will not only help us achieve our climate goals but also help Americans take advantage of clean, renewable, and affordable power."

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