Desert Sun editorial board

Congress should vote to strengthen wind power, which is especially important in the Coachella Valley.

During the lame-duck congressional session last week, it appeared the Wind Production Tax Credit would be revived. The PTC for windmills was established in 1992 as part of the Energy Policy Act, a 2.3-cent-per-kilowatt-hour benefit for the first 10 years of operation. It was strengthened by President Obama’s stimulus initiative in 2009. The PTC was set to expire in 2012, but Congress extended it for another year.

Ever since the wind subsidy died down at the end of 2013, wind energy advocates have been lobbying for its revival. A bill to retroactively renew about 50 tax breaks through the end of the year had the votes to pass in both houses.

However, according to Politico, Republicans angry over Obama’s use of executive authority to protect nearly 5 million undocumented workers from deportation eliminated two income tax credits that help the poorest Americans. Obama says that without the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit, he’ll veto the bill.

That leaves the Wind Production Tax Credit adrift.

Strengthen wind powerhouse

The San Gorgonio Pass west of Palm Springs is one of the deepest mountain passes in the nation, providing some of the most powerful and consistent wind. The construction of more than 3,000 turbines over the past 30 years represents a $2 billion capital investment, according to the California Wind Energy Association. Some turbines are in need of replacement or disposal.

Repowering windmills could reduce the number of turbines in the pass to about 800, according to Chris Lucker of the Desert Wind Energy Association. At the same time, new technology could more than double energy output. Reducing the number of windmills would cut the risk to birds.

A smaller carbon footprint

A report last week by the Environment California Research & Policy Center said wind energy last year displaced nearly 132 million metric tons of carbon dioxide nationwide, the equivalent of taking nearly 28 million vehicles off America’s roads.

Wind provides 4 percent of America’s energy. Environment California advocates a goal for wind to generate 30 percent of America’s electricity by 2030. That would avert 1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide a year.

As part of Environment California’s statement, Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet said he was proud of our valley’s role as a pioneer in wind energy.

“The desert floor in North Palm Springs may be small in total area, but it is the best wind resource and the most environmentally safe wind energy site in North America,” he said. “I look forward to how advances in wind energy technology will allow energy producers to expand the important role they play in our clean energy supply.”

Conservationists and wind

During recent hearings on the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan, some conservationists opposed the expansion of wind power because of the potential threat to birds and ground-dwelling species. However, in a column on this page, Jamie Clark of Defenders of Wildlife joins Susan Reilly of the American Wind Energy Association in vowing to work together to reduce the impact of wind power on wildlife.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s “Wind Vision” report says the effort will require “collaboration, information-sharing and constructive dialogue among the environmental community, government agencies and the wind industry to produce stable guidelines for wind project development that minimize the impacts on wildlife.”

The windmills in the San Gorgonio Pass occupy a significant wildlife corridor that must be protected. Careful planning is important.

Energy subsidies

In the other column on this page, Tom Pyle, president of the American Energy Alliance, argues against subsidizing wind power and says the PTC push is part of “the president’s attempt to shut down America’s coal industry.”

However, all forms of energy enjoy substantial support from the federal government. A report by Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship finds that oil and natural gas receive far more in government assistance through the depletion allowance — which has been part of the tax code since 1913 — than wind power has received from the PTC.

Congress should set their priorities in favor of clean energy over fossil fuels. If the choice is between wind, coal, oil or even natural gas, we’ll choose wind. Wind energy has vast potential to help the U.S. meet its energy goals and combat climate change. Congress should revive the Wind Production Tax Credit.