Vitter: Report Says Louisiana Paying $39 Million to Subsidize Wind Energy

Press Release

U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, commented on a report released by the Institute for Energy Research (IER) today on the impact of the federal wind energy tax credits for each state. According to the report, Louisiana taxpayers pay more than $39 million per year to subsidize wind energy production.

On November 18, Vitter sent a letter to Sylvia Mathews Burwell, Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), requesting an update on the economic data for domestic energy development, including oil and gas, coal, wind, and solar.

"I've always supported an all-of-the-above energy strategy; however, there are naturally some sources of energy that have proven to have a more positive impact on our economy and produce more revenue for the federal Treasury. As we work on creating a better energy policy, it's important to look toward the success stories that will bring stability and create jobs, especially from domestic energy production," said Vitter. "The Administration needs to do a much better job of producing economic data, so we can better understand which energy sources are self-sustainable and bring in revenue, and which ones are costing the government and taxpayers."

Vitter's request to OMB asks them to break down the economic data behind renewable energy projects and traditional energy sources, including information about net and projected revenues, lease sales, and taxpayer-funded subsidies.

In 2011, Vitter requested comprehensive responses on domestic energy development from then-OMB Director Jacob Lew. Today's letter follows up on that request, asking for more recent numbers and data.

Vitter, along with Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), have also asked the U.S. Department of Interior to explain the Administration's economic reasoning in allowing offshore lease sales for wind energy in the Atlantic Ocean. The senators have noted that that the agency will not allow offshore oil and gas leasing in the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), and have requested data on the economics of the wind lease sale, to compare with the value of a similar lease for oil and gas on equivalent acreage.

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