Congressman Cole Introduces Legislation to Encourage Alternative Energy Source

WASHINGTON, D.C. -Congressman Cole introduced the Home and Farm Wind Energy Systems Act of 2005 today that will provide a 30 percent tax credit for businesses and individuals that purchase small wind turbines.

"One of the greatest threats to economic recovery is increasing energy prices. Congress has already taken some important steps to solve this problem, but we must continue to provide incentives for those who use alternate energy sources. Small wind systems, if available at the right price, could be part of the solution to curbing energy prices," Congressman Cole said.

This legislation will help make small wind turbines more affordable by promoting mass production of the equipment.

"Small wind is an American led, renewable technology that offers homeowners and small businesses the prospect of significantly lowering their heating bills, if we can get the equipment into volume production," Mike Bergey, President of Bergey Windpower in Norman, Oklahoma, said.

Small wind systems work in cooperation with an individual's utility provider--often receiving some power from wind turbine and some from the power company. The amount from each depends on wind speed--increasing wind speed increases turbine energy production. As the wind turbine begins to work the power drawn from the power company is reduced

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