Wind, biodiesel subsidies promoted

DesMoinesRegister.com
11:46 PM, Dec. 13, 2011

Industries hope for extensions, but political tide is pushing against federal incentives

WASHINGTON — With subsidies for corn ethanol set to disappear at the end of the month, the rest of the renewable-energy industry is lobbying lawmakers to keep government incentives going.

The $1-a-gallon tax credit that undergirds the production of biodiesel also is due to expire Dec. 31, while tax incentives that support wind power and advanced forms of ethanol made from nonfood feedstocks are due to end a year from now.

The industries hope that Congress will include extensions of those subsidies in legislation that is needed to continue a variety of popular tax breaks that are expiring, including one that protects middle-income taxpayers from paying higher taxes under the alternative minimum tax.

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