It is nice to see American taking the initiative to stand up for energy independence. It is even better when it happens in your own backyard.
This past Friday, I had the opportunity to speak at the Wind Powered Community Celebration in Rock Port. The event commemorated Rock Port becoming the first 100 percent wind powered community in the United States. With the rising cost of energy, wind power is a critical part of achieving our energy independence. Rock Port is an example for the nation.

In Congress, I have been a long standing supporter of wind energy, voting in 2002 to bring back the wind energy tax credits voting to extend the wind energy tax credits in 2005 and 2006. I am particularly proud that these tax credits helped make the Loess Hills Wind Farm, which is powering the City of Rock Port, possible.

Currently, I am a co-sponsor of HR 197, a bi-partisan bill, which would extend the wind production tax credits for another 5 years. The tax credits are scheduled to expire in December 2008.

I am committed to passing the extension so we can wean ourselves off of foreign oil and have more communities like Rock Port. However, the leadership in Congress continues to play politics with our energy independence. Instead of passing an energy bill that extends the Wind Production Tax Credit, they passed a bill with giveaways to Hollywood, and ski resorts in Colorado. I support wind energy, I do not support making the taxpayers of Missouri pay for Lexus hybrids for the Beverly Hills Police Department or hybrid snow-mobiles for posh ski resorts in Aspen.

Congress needs to get serious and pass HR 197 to extend the wind production tax credit.

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