Exelon Corporation Thursday released the following statement in response to the American Wind Energy Association’s proposal to phase out the wind production tax credit:

“We are especially disappointed by this proposal, given that AWEA previously indicated that a 2-year extension would suffice”

“The proposal which the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) has offered for 'phasing-out' the federal wind energy production tax credit (PTC) is completely unacceptable. Rather than a reasonable phase-out, AWEA is essentially asking for a 6-year extension of the now 20-year old PTC – at either the full or nearly full level of the current PTC. In fact, in the last year of AWEA’s proposal, the PTC would still be available at 60 percent of its current level. Further, just for the first year alone of AWEA’s proposal, the cost to American taxpayers would be more than $12 billion.”

“AWEA’s proposal should be viewed by Congress as a non-starter for any phase-out discussion,” said Joseph Dominguez, Exelon Senior Vice President for Government & Regulatory Affairs and Public Policy. “We are especially disappointed by this proposal, given that AWEA previously indicated that a 2-year extension would suffice,” he added.

“The 20-year old PTC was originally designed to jumpstart the wind energy industry. Even if it is allowed to expire at the end of this year (as called for under current law), wind projects that are eligible for the credit before its expiration will continue to receive it for another 10 years. The wind energy industry has matured and is thriving today; the PTC is simply no longer needed.

“Further, because of the pricing advantage that the PTC provides to wind energy projects in today’s competitive energy markets, the credit actually puts at risk the operation of other, more reliable clean energy sources.”

12/17/2012