August 21, 2012 08:32 PM UTC

GOP Drops Wind PTC From National Party Platform

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• by: Colorado Pols

A release from Sen. Mark Udall today condemns the decision by the Republican National Committee to drop the wind production tax credit from the GOP party platform–considered vital to protecting thousands of Colorado jobs, and supported by nearly the entire Colorado delegation, including GOP Reps. Cory Gardner, Scott Tipton, and Mike Coffman.

But not supported by the new presumptive head of the Republican Party:

U.S. Sen. Mark Udall released the following statement after GOP leaders decided this week to remove an extension of the wind Production Tax Credit (PTC) from its draft party platform:

“The wind PTC supports up to 6,000 jobs across Colorado and more than 75,000 jobs nationwide,” Udall said. “I am disappointed that former Gov. Romney and Republican leaders have ignored the voices within their own party, including the vast majority of Colorado Republicans, in choosing to exclude the PTC from their draft platform.  As we saw last week when Vestas decided to lay off dozens of workers at its Pueblo facility, the failure to pass the PTC has real implications for Colorado and our nation.  This isn’t a partisan issue.  The PTC helps create Made-in-America energy and supports American manufacturing.  It is incredibly unfortunate that national Republicans led by Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are willing to cede these good-paying jobs and America’s place on the cutting edge of energy innovation to China and our other competitors abroad.”

The GOP’s decision to drop the wind PTC from its draft platform follows remarks by former Gov. Mitt Romney saying he would allow the tax credit to lapse. The wind PTC also would be allowed to expire under vice presidential candidate and Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan’s budget plan.