AWEA comments on Vestas' possible cuts in the US

By Kari Williamson

“...Vestas announcement shows the danger to US manufacturing jobs if Congress waits any longer to extend the Production Tax Credit (PTC). The layoffs have begun, and every week that goes by without a PTC extension puts these good American jobs at greater risk,” Bode says.

“Manufacturers like Vestas have invested billions of dollars a year in the US economy, and wind energy has become one of the fastest-growing sources of new American manufacturing jobs. Studies show that with stable tax policy the wind industry can grow to nearly 100,000 American jobs in the next four years and support 500,000 American jobs by 2030. But we have to provide this industry with stable tax policy and a predictable business climate.

“A PTC extension needs to be first on the list of priorities to be included when Congress gets back to work again in a few weeks,” she concludes.