At the end of the year, the wind production tax credit (PTC) expires. To continue this lavish handout to wind developers, wind supporters such as U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley have resorted to ever-more specious arguments to support yet another extension, or an uncreative "phase out" for a tax credit that has been on the books for two decades now. In a reaching Nov. 29 Roll Call piece, Sen. Grassley wrote that the Wind PTC is "is no different than tax incentives or favorable policies for other energy sources," and argued that it is a key component to reducing our dependence on the Middle East. These arguments are completely wrong and are merely excuses for continuing taxpayer handouts to an industry that doesn't need them.
