WASHINGTON – Jan. 31, 2008 – The American Corn Growers Association (ACGA), the nation’s first and leading commodity organization in the advocacy, promotion and development of wind generated power, commended Senators Max Baucus, D-Mont., Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, the committee’s senior minority member, for including an extension of the Production Tax Credit (PTC) for wind-generated electricity as part of the pending economic stimulus package.

ACGA President Keith Bolin, a corn and livestock producer in Bureau County, Ill., praised this week’s actions by the Senate Finance committee as a critical link in economic stimulus. “Extension of the PTC brings more certainty to pending and future wind development,” said Bolin.  “If President Bush will agree to the inclusion of the PTC in the stimulus package, he will be adding numerous jobs to our economy.  Many of the jobs will be in our local communities in the construction and operational phases of wind power.  But many other jobs will be created in the engineering, production and transportation of wind power components.”

Bolin also sits on the Bureau Valley School Board and was a key leader in the installation of a wind turbine at the district’s high school in 2005.  The project was the first of its kind in Illinois.  It provides all of the school district’s electricity and generates additional revenues used to pay for additional teachers.

The PTC is currently set to expire at the end of this year if Congress fails to extend it.  The uncertainty as to the future of the incentive makes it very difficult for investors to fund new wind projects, causes a serious slowdown in wind power development and reduces related job opportunities.  “The American Corn Growers respectfully but sternly advises President Bush to allow the PTC extension as part of his economic stimulus package.”

“ America needs a national energy policy which depends upon decentralized, diverse, domestic, renewable and sustainable energy sources,” concluded Bolin.  “Extension of the PTC for wind is critical to that endeavor.”

The American Corn Growers Association works to expand the understanding, acceptance and expansion of many renewable energy sources such as biodiesel, ethanol, wind-generated electricity, biomass and solar power.  ACGA represents 14,000 members in 35 states.  For more information, or if you would like to join ACGA or help support our efforts, please see www.acga.org .