UK: Romney would halt wind energy tax incentives but will continue to support oil and gas subsidies and tax breaks

The Guardian

Mitt Romney confirms he would end US wind power subsidies

Mitt Romney and Barack Obama draw up battle lines over US wind farm tax credits

• James Murray for BusinessGreen, part of the Guardian Environment Network
• guardian.co.uk, Thursday 2 August 2012 11.09 BST

Mitt Romney looks set to declare war on America's wind energy industry, further emphasising the dividing line between the presumptive Republican presidential candidate and President Barack Obama on energy issues.

Romney's campaign confirmed this week he wants to end long-standing tax credits for wind farm projects when the incentives come up for review later this year.

The pledge means the popular production tax credits (PTCs) – which have helped drive a surge in new wind energy investment in the US, making it the second largest wind energy market in the world after China – would be allowed to expire at the end of this year if the Republicans secure the White House in November.

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However, green groups, renewable energy industry insiders, and Democrats were all quick to point out that Romney's desire for a level playing field on energy policy does not extend to oil and gas, where he has pledged to retain up to $40bn of subsidies and tax breaks that President Obama wants to see phased out.

Read it at The Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/aug/02/mitt-romney-end-us-wind-subsidies