Get rid of wind tax credits (and all energy subsidies)

Joe Montes, the head of Americans for Prosperity in New Mexico, had an excellent article on the need for Congress to allow wind tax credits to expire. We totally agree. The Rio Grande Foundation joined more than 100 other organizations around the country in expressing opposition to the ongoing subsidies. If you agree, you can contact Congress here.

Supporters of subsidies for wind will of course counter that fossil fuels are subsidized as well. And we agree that ALL such subsidies should be eliminated. However, when you actually look at which means of generating electricity receive the greatest taxpayer support, check out the following chart:

To say the least, wind is disproportionately subsidized relative to most other electricity sources. And, while Congress is the immediate focal point on this particular wind subsidy, New Mexico’s Renewable Portfolio Standard is another costly mandate. This recent study shows that such regulations result in higher electricity costs…one would think that such policies which directly harm the poor would be a concern for folks on the left, but that doesn’t appear to be the case.