Obama's Green Policy in Iowa

My blood boils a little bit when I hear Obama talk about all the great things that he has done for the Green Energy Industry, especially for wind, here in Iowa. His words took my blood pressure to new heights when he invoked my home state in one of his debate answers tonight;

"So, I’m all for pipelines. I’m all for oil production. What I’m not for is us ignoring the other half of the equation. So, for example, on wind energy, when Governor Romney says “these are imaginary jobs.” When you’ve got thousands of people right now in Iowa, right now in Colorado, who are working, creating wind power with good-paying manufacturing jobs, and the Republican senator in that — in Iowa is all for it, providing tax breaks (ph) to help this work and Governor Romney says I’m opposed. I’d get rid of it."

What is the reality on the ground? Well, first of all, a couple quick jabs. The obvious question is that how can Obama be all for pipelines when he has stonewalled the XL pipeline around every corner. Simply saying that you are in favor of something is a long way from being in favor of something. And I'm sure the discussion of what Obama has done for Oil production on our continent will be vetted out in the wake of tonight's debate.

Now, the meat of the statement. Of course a Senator Grassely is in favor of tax cuts for Wind Energy. He's a republican, he is in favor of almost all tax cuts. He made this public statement in the early parts of August of this year, because he know that a major wind power manufacturer was on the ropes. Ironically is a company that also had a large presence in Colorado, I'm referring to Clipper Wind. A company that just laid off 32% of it's workforce here in Cedar Rapids.

Demand for wind turbines, blades, towers and other equipment has fallen steeply in recent months due to the low price of natural gas and the impending expiration of the Federal Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit at the end of this year.

The American Wind Energy Association said earlier this month that wind power installations have declined between 73 percent and 93 percent in the years after previous expiration of the production tax credit. Congress has restored the tax credit on previous occasions, but not before widespread industry layoffs.

It begs the question why these extensions are held hostage during an election cycle, or did I just answer my own question?

I don't blame Obama for the failure of the industry per se. Though we lost our 2008 top world ranking to 

China under Obama in total wind power production. I do make a point that this tax credit is constantly kicked down the road with no talk of extending it much beyond the next election cycle at the same time it is held out infront of the American people as a standard for what these policies can do to restore American industry. While the white house tries to champion how it is dulling out green energy dollars and credits and talking about the great manufacturers that swing states like Iowa and Colorado have, those companies are laying off hundreds and the industry is dying right before our eyes. 

Romney's plan is to stop these stupid games with picking industry winners and losers. They are not working. Rather, implement a lower rate for all industry and give each of them a fair chance to make it on their own. Give less of what they earn to the government rather then dull out billions of taxpayer dollar and cross your fingers that lightning will strike  Why should a companies ability to petition for federal aide be the new determinant in who has the best business model? That's like saying a promotion should go to the employee who asks for the most raises at work. Does that sound like a recipe for a healthy, solid industry? A quick look at how successful US green energy companies are doing against international competition should give you a quick answer.