js7a's Journal: Wind Power Lives

Tax Credit Survives
by Bill Fonda
The Cape Codder
Friday, June 24, 2005

... By a 63-32 vote, senators rejected an amendment to the proposed national energy policy that would have disallowed the tax credit of 1.8 cents for each kilowatt hour of energy produced for wind projects within 20 miles of national parks, national military parks, national seashores and lakeshores and other scenic locations.

The amendment would have also required an environmental impact statement for any project within 20 miles of scenic sites and six months notice for communities before a wind project can be permitted....

Tennessee Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander sponsored the amendment, which was similar to the bill he and Virginia Republican John Warner introduced last month. That bill has been referred to the Senate's Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

The 40 Democratic senators and 23 Republicans who voted against the amendment included Massachusetts Democrats John Kerry and Edward Kennedy, even though Kennedy has opposed the Cape Wind project. Neither senator's office could be reached for comment.

Rejoice!