by John Hickey, Chapter Director
In January, President Obama won extension of the Production Tax Credit (PTC), which supports wind energy development in the US. This victory was won thanks to strong involvement by Sierra Club members in Missouri and nationally. While 2012 was a record year for wind energy in the US, the potential loss of the PTC threatened to choke off that momentum.
Wind energy supports over 1,000 jobs in Missouri, according to the American Wind Energy Association, including manufacturing jobs at places like ABB in Jefferson City and CG Power Systems in Washington, as well as operations and maintenance jobs like those at the Lost Creek Wind Farm in King City.
I was one of six Missouri Sierra Club activists who attended the Good Jobs, Green Jobs conference in Washington D.C. in April to learn what our chapter can do to expand green jobs here, helping the economy while saving the environment. While there, we went to Capitol Hill to visit the Missouri Congressional delegation and make our case. Since the extension of the PTC is only for one year, Sierra Club members will need to keep the pressure on convince Congress to extend the PTC once again – we will need you!