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State should not be subsidizing wind industry
Credit: East Oregonian, eastoregonian.com 31 August 2010 ~~
Sen. David Nelson: I have been thinking about contacting you lately to see what it would take to sponsor a bill to stop tax credits from bleeding the Oregon State Treasury. I feel that for a business to receive Oregon tax credits it should show worthy cause and have to prove itself creditable by sustaining a full-time employment base of gainfully employed Oregonians. I remember when I moved to Pendleton that Oregon once had a “Tax-Back Kicker” for Oregonians, and I think I remember some folks that got a balanced budget state check back from that program.
I used to own the fly fishing shop in Pendleton. Wind turbine employee dollars came into my shop and that was nice, but all of those guys were from out of state, and were here for only 6 to 8 months, then gone – poof! – like the wind. I see the wind turbine industry hiring quite a few out-of-state workers to construct their project sites and erect their turbines, and then they are gone. I see all the vehicles bringing wind turbine parts into our area with out-of state vehicle tags on them. All these guys seem to be taking the money and running back to their home states or home country. Poof! – gone like the wind with our Oregon tax credits.
I also have a question as to why Oregon is giving tax credits to an industry in an economy that used to be – should be – based on capitalism? Sen. Nelson I feel that if a company/business/industry is not profitable, it should sink, go out of business and disappear. Are we propping up Gov. Teddy’s “green” ego with our taxes?
Why is the state of Oregon giving tax credits to any industry, then making budget cutbacks in education, law enforcement, public health and safety?
Can the Legislature honestly say that this is the best use of our tax dollars at work? I am not a happy camper with this picture.
Why is the state of Oregon giving tax credits to subsidize an industry that produces energy at a best rate of 30 percent efficiency for a 95 percent out-of-state consumer base? I feel that if the residents of California and other states need Oregon wind energy and exclusive farm use (EFU) lands, let them pay for 95 percent of it.
Sen. Nelson, can you help me understand why this is?
Please help us keep our tax dollars at home to help Oregonians in need of health care, education and law enforcement/ public safety. Please help us protect the Blue Mountains from the earth movers and the steamroller effect of the wind turbine industry.
Dale McKain
Milton-Freewater
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