FREE SPEECH ZONE | PTC foot-dragging threatens Minnesota jobs
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While candidates spar over taxes and private investment in response to sluggish job growth, one of Minnesota’s economic success stories may be coming to an untimely end. Free Speech ZoneThe Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. This is an open forum for articles that otherwise might not find a place for publication, including news articles, opinion columns, announcements and even a few press releases. The opinions expressed in the Free Speech Zone and Neighborhood Notes, as well as the opinions of bloggers, are their own and not necessarily the opinion of the TC Daily Planet.The production tax credit, a wind-energy incentive that has garnered bipartisan support for years, is up for renewal, and election year rancor and campaign distractions suggest it may be allowed to expire in December. This could be devastating for Minnesota and the wind industry overall. With the encouragement of the PTC and the enthusiasm of private investors willing to take a reduced risk on a young but endlessly renewable energy source, the cost of wind has dropped 90% since 1980 and wind now provides 3% of our national energy supply. Continue Reading