New Polling Shows Support for Wind Tax Credits
Washington, D.C. (Dec. 19, 2016)— The Family Business Coalition (FBC) released a poll of registered voters in Oklahoma that shows widespread support for the state’s wind industry and the wind tax credit that supports it. The poll shows not only Oklahomans want more state investment in wind power, but that they believe eliminating the state wind tax credit is a poor solution for fixing the state budget.
A poll of 373 Oklahoma registered voters conducted at the end of November revealed important findings about the public’s opinion toward wind power in the state:
- Voters strongly support the Wind Energy Production Tax Credit, with only 20% of those polled wanting to see the wind credit eliminated.
- The more Oklahomans know about how the wind tax credit supports schools and creates jobs, the more they support keeping the credit.
- Most Oklahomans don’t see potential elimination of the wind tax credit as a good way to solve the state’s budget issues.
- Oklahomans voters want the state to invest more money in wind power, not less.
Today, Oklahoma is 4th nationally in the generation of wind power, with local schools and counties expected to gain $1.2 billion in tax revenues from wind projects.
“Oklahomans clearly believe in the state’s wind potential and value the fact that wind projects create jobs and produce local tax revenue for schools and communities,” said Palmer Schoening, Chairman of the Family Business Coalition. “We hope that Oklahoma’s leaders will listen to the voters and do everything they can to protect the contributions that wind is making in the state.”
Wind projects create 7,000 jobs in Oklahoma, producing economic impacts that ripple across the state and add to the bottom line of local businesses. Research also shows that Oklahoma’s investment in wind power will lead to lower electricity rates in the long term, helping family businesses be more profitable.
###
