Investing in clean energy as part of an all-of-the-above energy plan not only helps create thousands of jobs but is a vital step in moving America toward secure energy future. That’s why President Obama has prioritized investment in energy sources like wind power across the country—efforts that have helped the United States more than double wind production, maintain hundreds of manufacturing facilities that produce components for the wind industry, and support 75,000 jobs across the country.
Mitt Romney, however, has chosen a different path. While President Obama is pushing Congress to extend the production tax credit for wind energy, Mitt Romney opposes this business tax credit and favors letting it expire at the end of this year. Here’s a look at how the candidates compare and what America could face if Romney gets his way and undermines American investment in clean energy.
Under President Obama:
Electricity from wind sources has more than doubled since 2008. Today, there’s enough wind capacity to power 10 million homes across the country.
Manufacturing states like Iowa, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan are leading the country in wind power jobs.
There are now more than 400 wind-related manufacturing facilities across 43 states, supplying this growing industry with American-made components.
Private investment has grown to between $15.5 and $20 billion a year on average over the past five years.
If the production tax credit is extended, the wind industry could grow to support 100,000 jobs by 2016 and 500,000 jobs by 2030.
Under Governor Romney
If the tax credit is not extended, 10,000 jobs are expected to be lost by the end of 2012 and as many as 37,000 jobs could be lost within a year.
If Congress passes the budget Romney supports, clean energy investments will be slashed, with $4 billion in taxpayer money going to the oil and gas industries.
If Romney has a chance to act based on his unfounded belief that clean energy is “sharply uncompetitive,” the U.S. would cede leadership and innovation in wind energy—and the jobs created by this market—to Europe and China.
When it comes to clean energy, President Obama and Mitt Romney present Americans with a stark choice this year. With President Obama, we can continue on the path towards a country that is more energy independent. With Mitt Romney, we risk ceding our leadership and jobs in clean energy to the rest of the world.