Oklahoma considers additional taxes to wind industry

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – A battle is shaping up at Oklahoma’s Capitol over the burgeoning wind industry that is facing fierce opposition from some oil-and-gas leaders as well as critics who say the state has been too generous with incentives. Oklahoma incentivized the industry more than a decade ago with subsidies that eventually cost the state tens of millions of dollars each year.
Now those subsidies have all been ended, but there is still a push to impose a new production tax on wind energy and maybe even cap previously promised incentives.
Supporters of wind say the state is going back on its word and threatening an industry that has proven to be beneficial to the state, offering a new revenue stream for landowners and local school districts. Wind and other clean energy supporters contend that these industries are the future of energy production and should be embraced by the government rather than burdened with extra taxes.