A group of United States representatives led by South Dakota Rep. Kristi Noem sent a letter to leaders of the country's House of Representatives urging the extension of the Production Tax Credit for wind energy.

Ms. Noem is a co-sponsor of House Resolution 3307, the American Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit Extension Act of 2011, which will extend the tax credit up until January 2017. Together with colleagues from both Republican Party as well as the Democratic Party, they addressed the issue to House Speaker John Boehner, majority leader Eric Cantor and Kevin McCarthy.

"The P.T.C. has been an important player in bringing the wind industry to life," said Ms. Noem. She cited how the industry has helped bring jobs to Americans, bringing over 75,000 in South Dakota alone - her representative state.

"With MFG Manufacturing in Aberdeen, MTI in Mitchell and wind farms in other areas of the state, wind energy is helping families pay mortgages and put food on the table. If we fail to extend the P.T.C., thousands of jobs will be at risk, and that's why I'm pushing to get it on the House floor as soon as possible," she added.

The American Wind Energy Association lauded the move.

"The P.T.C. is an example of effective, job-creating tax policy, but with expiration looming at the end of the year, 37,000 good American jobs are in peril," said AWEA chief executive Denise Bode. "That is why Congress must act now to save U.S.A. wind jobs and keep this success story moving forward."

Ms. Noem and her colleagues are part of more than 100 co-sponsors of H.R. 3307 and the American Energy and Job Promotion Act, or S.2201.

A coalition of 23 governors is also pushing for the tax credit extension, along with over 400 organizations and companies including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Edison Electric Institute.

AWEA said some companies have started lay-offs because of uncertainty over the P.T.C., with 37,000 job losses predicted within a year, citing a study by Navigant Consulting. If the P.T.C. will be extended though, the industry is said to make 100,000 jobs by 2016.

"Wind projects typically have an 18- to 24-month development cycle. So effectively the P.T.C. is already expiring," said Ms. Bode. "That is why an extension is urgently needed now. We can't afford to wait until the P.T.C. runs out." – EcoSeed Staff