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Gov Urges Wind Tax Credit Extensions

South Dakota’s governor and three other leaders want Congress to extend tax credits for wind energy. The leaders say their states rely on the jobs and the resource the wind industry creates. Advocates want solutions for the long-term.

Members of Congress are working to reform the nation’s tax code, and that has some wind energy tax credits at risk. That’s why leaders in South Dakota, Iowa, Oregon, and Washington sent a letter to Congress urging lawmakers to keep wind energy incentives.

South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard chairs the Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition. He says the Production Tax Credit and Investment Tax Credit for wind energy are opportunities to push the industry toward independence from government money.

"I don’t know that we’re quite there yet in the wind area. If gas prices weren’t so cheap, I’d say wind might be able to survive without the production tax credit, but I think it’s important that we not lose this industry even as we’re on the brink of it being able to stand alone without any support," Daugaard says.

Other advocates say keeping the tax credits helps wind energy compete with fossil fuels – an industry that benefits from tax incentives and credits.

Daugaard says dozens of South Dakota businesses are directly involved with wind energy production. He says wind creates 26 percent of the state’s electricity.

To read the letter four governor's sent to Congress, visit this link.

Kealey Bultena grew up in South Dakota, where her grandparents took advantage of the state’s agriculture at nap time, tricking her into car rides to “go see cows.” Rarely did she stay awake long enough to see the livestock, but now she writes stories about the animals – and the legislature and education and much more. Kealey worked in television for four years while attending the University of South Dakota. She started interning with South Dakota Public Broadcasting in September 2010 and accepted a position with television in 2011. Now Kealey is the radio news producer stationed in Sioux Falls. As a multi-media journalist, Kealey prides herself on the diversity of the stories she tells and the impact her work has on people across the state. Kealey is always searching for new ideas. Let her know of a great story! Find her on Facebook and twitter (@KealeySDPB).