The South Dakota Wind Energy Association says a measure introduced in the state legislature, SB 180 will help attract more wind energy development to South Dakota. Wind Association Executive Director Paul Bachman says the current wind development law puts South Dakota at a disadvantage to other states due to the escalator clause.
Bachman says SB 180 gets rid of the escalator clause by putting in a flat tax rate.
Bachman says without SB 180, South Dakota will continue to lose wind projects to Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa and North Dakota. He says Nebraska officials are currently working on incentives to attract more wind projects.
Bachman says Minnesota is currently ramping up their renewable energy development by requiring the amount of total renewable energy to go up from 25 percent to 40 percent of all power.