Dive Summary:

• The December 31 expiration of a federal wind generation tax credit program has prompted Texas wind farm producers to rush to get current projects operational; the tax credit would have to be saved by Congress and the White House in a last-minute deal.
• The federal subsidy has benefited Texas more than any other state, but production of wind equipment has already slowed in preparation for the expiration; one company expects a reduction from 70 turbines built over the last 12 months down to 10 over the next 12.
• Supporters of the tax credit say that its expiration would eliminate half of the 75,000 wind industry jobs in the nation, of which 10,000 are exist in Texas alone.

From the article:

In rare instances, wind farms in West Texas give away power because they only collect federal payments when generating electricity. And one analyst, the Brattle Group advising the Texas Public Utility Commission, warned that wind power is depressing wholesale electricity prices and complicating the state's attempt to attract investment in new power plants.

Although wind is plentiful and wind generation consistently gets high marks in polls of Texas residents, Gov. Rick Perry didn't join 28 governors in a letter of support for the tax credit. ...