Tax credit expected to boost development of renewables

American Wind Energy Association CEO Denise Bode, a former Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner, said the continuation of the investment tax credit for renewable energy opens the door for a new wave of wind power and other renewable energy projects, while saving the jobs of tens of thousands of Americans.

“This is a great day for American workers,” Bode said last week after the new tax bill was unveiled.

She pledged to work to ensure the new tax bill is passed.

“Factories across the country will restart production lines, recall workers and avoid layoffs that would have followed the loss of this key incentive for wind energy,” Bode said. “With consistent policies like this one, wind energy can generate 20 percent of America's electricity within 20 years, and employ half a million Americans.”

Continuation of the renewable energy credit is expected to spur development of wind and solar resources in Oklahoma.

Wind figures to account for much of the development in Oklahoma, state Energy Secretary Bobby Wegener said.

“That's our primary commercial renewable resource in Oklahoma,” he said.