A new poll by a group called the Family Business Coalition adds fuel to the fiery-debate over efforts in the Oklahoma legislature to eliminate tax credits for the state’s wind industry.
The Coalition says its recent poll of likely Oklahoma voters found 76% favor keeping or increasing the tax credits while only 16 percent support doing away with the credits.
“It is clear that Oklahomans value wind production and believe that the state’s wind tax credit is working for the state,” said Palmer Schoening, Chairman of the Family Business Coalition. “Hopefully, Oklahoma lawmakers will listen to the voters and ensure the state’s wind energy tax credit keeps producing results for Oklahoma.”
The poll showed 65% of voters feel that 20% wind generated electric is too little. Forty-nine percent think the state should invest more in wind energy each year and another 27% feel the state should at least keep the current investment level. In total, more than three quarters of those polled think the tax credit should be maintained at current levels of even increased.
The Coalition said it’s clear the Wind Energy Production Tax Credit enjoys broad support. Fifty-six percent believe the credit is a good idea and 31% call it a “very good” idea. The survey indicated the results came from 69% of Democrats, 53% of Republicans and 52% of Independents.
“The wind power in Oklahoma brought on by the state’s tax credit has helped keep down power rates, while other states have seen increases,” explained Schoening. “Those low power prices are good for Oklahoma family businesses and for all electricity customers that value savings.”
Schoening was interviewed Tuesday morning on radio KOKC’s “Mitchell in the Morning Show.” Listen to part of the interview between Scott Michell and Schoening.