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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Monte Shaw
November 18, 2011
515-252-6249
IRFA Calls On Gov. Perry To Clarify Campaign’s Conflicting Energy Tax Credit Statements
Perry Remarks Contradict Perry Energy Plan
JOHNSTON, IA – With presidential candidate Rick Perry returning to Iowa tomorrow, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) called upon the Texas governor to clarify his recent statements on energy tax credits that contradict his official energy plan.
“The Perry campaign has been all over the map on tax credits,” stated IRFA President Walt Wendland. “Iowans deserve to know Gov. Perry’s true plan. Page 35 of the Perry energy plan clearly states that renewable tax credits should end on December 31 of this year as scheduled. But Gov. Perry told an Iowa reporter this week that he doesn’t have a date in mind for ending the renewable tax credits and wants to give renewables a reasonable period of time. Which is it?”
Since the October 14 release of the Perry energy plan, IRFA has been pushing the Perry campaign to clarify how they will phase out oil tax subsidies. Despite rhetoric that all energy tax credits should be eliminated, the Perry energy plan only includes a mechanism for ending renewable tax credits. There are no details for ending the 100-year old oil tax subsidies.
“Since the Perry energy plan would essentially leave oil subsidies in place forever, IRFA called for more clarity on how Perry, as president, would achieve his stated goal of ending all energy tax credits,” continued Wendland. “The Perry campaign then told Bloomberg News that oil subsidies would be phased out over 20 years. But this week, Gov. Perry told an Iowa reporter he had no deadline in mind for repealing the oil subsidies.”
Wendland concluded: “When Perry’s energy plan ends renewable tax credits in six weeks, but supposedly phases oil subsidies out over 20 years, Iowans have the right to say that this is not a level playing field. First, Gov. Perry needs to clarify his conflicting statements. But more importantly, Gov. Perry needs to modify his energy plan so that it no longer puts domestic, alternative fuels at a disadvantage. That is not acceptable and we will keep pushing to have it addressed.”
Perry Energy Tax Credit Timeline
October 14 Perry unveils energy plan that calls for ending renewable tax credits on December 31, 2011. IRFA issues statement pointing out that the Perry energy plan leaves oil tax subsidies open-ended. www.iowarfa.org/IRFAPresidentStatementonGov.php
November 7 Perry campaign tells Bloomberg News that Perry would work with Congress to phase out oil subsidies “over the next 20 years.” www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-07/perry-s-plan-to-halt-energy-breaks-favors-oil-gas-producers.html
November 14 IRFA calls upon Perry to reconsider giving oil 20 more years of subsidies while denying tax credits to renewable fuels. www.iowarfa.org/IRFACallsOnGov.PerrytoReconsider20MoreYearsofOilSubsidies.php
November 16 In an interview with Radio Iowa, Perry contradicts the Bloomberg News article, saying he has no “hard” deadline for repealing energy subsidies. Then contradicting his own energy plan, Perry also said he had no “hard date” in mind to end renewable tax credits and that they should be “phased out over a reasonable period of time.” www.radioiowa.com/2011/11/16/branstad-touts-wind-energy-tax-credit-perry-plans-to-junk-all-energy-subsidies/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+RadioIowaNews+%28Radio+Iowa+News%29
Walt Wendland is the CEO of Golden Grain Energy near Mason City, Iowa and Homeland Energy Solutions near Lawler, Iowa. He is currently serving his second term as President of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association.
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association was formed in 2002 to represent the state’s liquid renewable fuels industry. The trade group fosters the development and growth of the renewable fuels industry in Iowa through education, promotion, legislation and infrastructure development.
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For more information, visit the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association website at: www.IowaRFA.org
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