Investing in wind power has proven to be a good deal for Illinois. Wind has attracted over $7.2 billion in capital investment to the state and created thousands of well-paying jobs.

That’s a big reason why I want to thank Illinois Republican Sen. Mark Kirk for supporting policy that will help keep the wind power success story going not just in Illinois, but all across the United States.

Recently, Sen. Kirk joined a bipartisan coalition of 144 Senate and House members calling for an immediate extension of the Production Tax Credit and Investment Tax Credit. These tax credits have helped American wind power attract up to $25 billion a year in private investment into our national economy and foster economic development in all 50 states. Illinois alone has created nearly 7,000 jobs at 36 facilities around the state due to growing wind power.

Leeco® Steel started as a scrap shop in south Chicago more than 130 years ago and is now North America’s main supplier of the plate steel used to construct modern wind turbines. Our staff of more than 100 employees has witnessed the positive impact wind energy has had on our business, and manufacturing as a whole. Yet wind lacks the support of a stable national energy policy that will further encourage investment and in turn, create jobs.

By calling for an extension of both the PTC and the ITC, Kirk is standing up for Illinois workers and for an American-made industry that benefits our economy.

John Purcell

Leeco Steel, Lisle