Production tax credit

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PTC expiration vs wind installation.png

In the USA, a “production tax credit” (PTC) for industrial wind turbines was established in 1992[1] and first applied to facilities built in 1993. It provided a tax credit to a facility for 10 years of 1.5 cents per kWh of electricity generated. Every year it was adjusted for inflation, rising to 2.3 cents for facilities built (or “starting construction” if they show “continuous progress” and become operational within 4 years) in 2016.[2]

After the initial legislation expired after 1999, the PTC was allowed to lapse for a year, as it was again after 2001 and 2003. As the wind industry lobby has noted, wind development dropped precipitously in years when the PTC was not available to help investors avoid taxes.[3]

In 2015, legislation ended the PTC for non-wind renewables after 2016 and established a phase-out for wind. Facilities claiming the PTC in 2017 will get 80% of the 2016 value, in 2018 60%, and in 2019 40%. After 2019, new facilities will not be able to claim the PTC.

Investment tax credit

As an alternative, facilities eligible for the PTC can claim an “investment tax credit” (ITC), in which a projected value of the PTC over its 10 years (namely, 30% of the capital investment) is taken up front.[4]

The ITC for industrial wind is being phased out in the same way as the PTC.

References

See also

Feed-in tariff Renewable energy certificates Renewable portfolio standard