AWEA: New national poll supports continuation of Production Tax Credit

A new poll finds that wide majorities of Republicans, Democrats and Independents support keeping the Production Tax Credit so that investment in wind energy can continue, and American workers can make more of our own energy here in America.

“These poll results couldn’t be clearer. American voters support wind power and support continuing the incentive for investment in wind power,” said Tom Kiernan, CEO of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). “It’s time for Congress to do what the majority of Americans want – and that means extending the Production Tax Credit so we can keep scaling up this critically important American energy source.”

The poll found 73 percent of registered voters support continuing the Production Tax Credit (PTC), including 63 percent of registered Republicans, 74 percent of Independents, and over 71 percent overall in all regions of the country.

The results show unwavering support among registered voters since a poll conducted last December by USA Today, Stanford University, and Resources for the Future also found 73 percent support for tax incentives to encourage investment in clean energy.  

The latest poll also found 79 percent of registered voters, including 69 percent of Republicans, agree with the statement "incentives for investment in wind energy help American workers make more of our own energy right here in America.”

The questions about wind energy and the PTC were asked on a survey by the Gotham Research Group from Nov. 20-23, 2014, which reached 1,015 U.S. adults old enough to vote by a combination of land lines and cell phones, and identified 832 registered voters, for a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent for U.S. adults, and +/- 3.4 percent for registered voters.

Predictable, stable, pro-growth tax policy is vital if the U.S. wind energy industry is to keep developing more efficient technology, and sustaining 73,000 jobs and an average of $17.3 billion a year in private investment into the U.S. economy. That includes thousands of well-paying wind manufacturing jobs at over 500 factories in 43 states that supply the U.S. industry.

The renewable energy Production Tax Credit and Investment Tax Credit have a history of bipartisan support, as they did last April when five Republicans joined Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee in an 18-6 vote to include them in this year’s tax extenders bill, the EXPIRE Act.

The latest data show that in nearly all regions, the PTC is essential if new wind installations and cost reductions are to continue and benefit more consumers.

Failures to continue the PTC by Congress in the past has caused an up to 92 percent drop in new wind power installations over the previous year, causing the loss of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in private investment to the U.S. economy.

Here are the results from Gotham Research Group for the national survey taken Nov. 20-23:

Q: Please tell me whether you agree or disagree with the following statement: “incentives for investment in wind energy help American workers make more of our own energy right here in America.” [IF AGREE/DISAGREE, ASK:] Would you say you strongly agree/disagree or somewhat agree/disagree?

Q: As you may know, the government currently provides a basic tax incentive for investment in wind energy – this tax incentive is called the Production Tax Credit.

Do you support or oppose keeping the Production Tax Credit in place so that investment in wind energy can continue? [IF SUPPORT/OPPOSE, ASK:] Would you say you strongly support/oppose keeping the Production Tax Credit in place, or somewhat support/oppose it?

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