Nov 21 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Greeley Tribune, Colo.


U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey, D-Colo. along with Rep. Erik Paulsen, R-Minn., introduced the Renewable Electricity Integration Tax Credit Act on Friday, which would provide a tax credit for utilities to integrate more wind and solar into their energy portfolios.

Currently, only wind developers benefit from the Production Tax Credit. The tax credit would take into account additional costs for ramping baseload plants up and down to accommodate intermittent wind and solar, adding quick-start natural gas generation to serve as a backup when wind and solar are not available, and investing in projects to store renewable electric power, according to a Markey press release.

The bill -- HR 4149 -- has been referred to the House on Ways and Means Committee.

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