North American Windpower: In Iowa, Obama Calls Out Romney On Wind Energy Jobs

by NAW Staff on Thursday 18 October 2012

After both presidential candidates expressed their support for wind energy at Tuesday night's debate, President Barack Obama was back on the campaign trail in Iowa, which is second in the nation in installed wind energy capacity and a state that could lose many more wind jobs if the production tax credit (PTC) is not extended.

Although Mitt Romney said Tuesday night that he supports wind jobs, the former Massachusetts governor has publicly stated that he opposes the PTC - a stance Obama slammed at a campaign event the next day.

“I've got to tell you, Iowa, this is not a pipedream - there are nearly 7,000 jobs in Iowa right now depending on wind energy,” Obama said. “Last night, Gov. Romney claimed he didn’t have a plan to end wind jobs in Iowa, but he called these jobs ‘imaginary.’

“His plan would end tax credits for wind energy producers - that is a fact,” he continued. “My plan will keep these investments, and we’ll keep reducing the carbon pollution that’s also heating the planet, because climate change isn't a hoax.”

The PTC has widespread bipartisan support in Iowa, including from Sen. Chuck Grassley - the author of the original PTC - and Gov. Terry Branstad, who are both Republicans.

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