Alexander windmill amendment fails in Senate

Chattanooga Times Free Press, June 24, 2005
Politics A5

Alexander windmill amendment fails in Senate

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Sen. Lamar Alexander's latest attempt to limit the number of windmills across the country failed this week when the Senate voted against an amendment he tried to add to a massive energy bill.

Alexander's amendment would have restricted the federal tax credit that props up many fledgling wind projects and required six-months' notice be given to local communities before a new wind project could receive a permit. The amendment, which was sponsored by eight other senators, was defeated in a 32-63 vote on Wednesday.

Alexander has objected to the size and cost of wind power, saying gigantic windmills destroy scenic landscapes.

"What I would like for us to do in the Senate is recognize our responsibility to the American landscape," he said on the Senate floor.

But opponents of his proposal said it would limit the development of wind power at a time when lawmakers are trying to encourage the development of clean and renewable energy sources.

"This amendment ... raises obstacles, and it says that we are going to make it more and more difficult for people to proceed with development of wind power projects," said Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M.

Alexia Poe, Alexander's spokeswoman, said wind power is an issue that the senator will likely "continue to be interested in." Stephen Smith, executive director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, said the vote showed Alexander is "clearly out of step with the vast majority of U.S. senators."

Alexander still has a bill pending that would put the same restrictions on the windmill tax credit.