Chairman Ryan obeys Koch machine, moves to kill domestic wind

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Under the leadership of Chairman Paul Ryan, the House Ways and Means committee is considering legislation to make many of the so-called “tax extenders” permanent. The legislation excludes the production tax credit for wind, a now-expired incentive that is vital to the growing domestic wind industry. This comes only one day after the Koch-aligned Americans for Prosperity and other conservative groups wrote to Ryan urging him not to extend incentives for renewable energy.

Friends of the Earth Climate and Energy Campaigner Lukas Ross issued the following statement in response:

When the Koch Brothers say ‘jump,’ Chairman Paul Ryan asks ‘how high?’ Once again Republican leadership feels the need to publicly pledge fealty to its Big Oil backers.

Cutting off the wind industry at the knees while ignoring Big Oil’s egregious tax giveaways is nothing short of climate denial. Avoiding the worst impacts of climate change will to require an Apollo Project-sized commitment to renewable energy. Chairman Ryan’s proposal delays the renewable energy future we so desperately need.

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Expert contact: Lukas Ross, (202) 222-0724, [email protected]
Communications contact: Kate Colwell, (202) 222-0744, [email protected]