Reps. Moolenaar, Amos, Pastor, Ward, Mortimer, Middaugh, Julian, Emmons, Hager, Bisbee, Kooiman, Stewart, Caul, Ruth Johnson, Garfield, Brandenburg, Acciavatti, Hune, LaJoy, Steil, Wenke, Nofs, Hoogendyk, Newell, Ehardt, Kolb, Anderson, DeRossett, Farrah, Sheltrown and Stakoe offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 88.

            A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact legislation to extend the production tax credit for wind power energy development.

            Whereas, In an effort to foster the development of alternate energy sources for the future, a production tax credit for wind power energy development was established in 1992.  In the years since that time, significant progress has been made in the challenging work of developing clean sources of power for our country; and

            Whereas, The long-term strategy behind the production tax credit for wind energy development has been impeded by the fact that this federal program faces sunset provisions every two years.  Sunset provisions clearly are a productive tool to ensure sound spending policies.  However, in an extended effort like developing viable wind energy technology, which has enormous capital expenses, the requirement for renewal every two years has proven to be counterproductive.  Over most two-year cycles, the amount of power added through wind technology investment drops considerably in the second year, as developers worry about whether the tax credit incentive will be revived after it expires; and

            Whereas, The production tax credit, like other incentives that the government has provided throughout history to encourage various development initiatives, would be far more effective if it could be extended beyond the two-year period.  This emerging industry, which may one day be a key part of America's overall energy needs, will make much more significant advances with a consistent, multiple-year approach; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact legislation to extend the production tax credit for wind power energy development beyond the two-year cycle under which it now operates; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.