Senator Jonathan Wingard is proposing to end the grandfathering of a wind farm tax credit. He’s filed Senate Bill 239 to eliminate the zero-emission subsidy for wind production after tax year 2025. Wingard says it will save taxpayers $16 million.
“Oklahoma taxpayers have already invested hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies for wind farms across the state, and it’s beyond time to end this costly practice,” Wingard said. “While new wind projects no longer qualify for these credits, existing operations continue to receive significant tax breaks even though Oklahoma families don’t benefit from these green-energy initiatives. It’s become abundantly clear that this money could be put to better use elsewhere.”
When the Legislature originally began the ten year, zero-emission tax credit, there was no cap on the limit which began accelerating the cost of the program. In 2017, the Legislature and Governor Mary Fallin ended the program, but grandfathered wind farms that were operational before July 1, 2017. Wingard’s bill, if approved, would end the subsidies for those wind farms.
