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ACGA urges investment in wind power Also on CropChoice: Poultry producer attempts to undermine organic standards, says OTA; http://www.cropchoice.com/leadstry.asp?recid=742 Pew to host debate on GM food labeling; http://www.cropchoice.com/leadstry.asp?recid=738 EU signs crop diversity treaty; http://www.cropchoice.com/leadstry.asp?recid=744 Philippine PVPA gets president's autograph; http://www.cropchoice.com/leadstry.asp?recid=745 EU committee favors stricter GM labeling rules; http://www.cropchoice.com/leadstry.asp?recid=740 It wasn't very noisy at the OTA convention; http://www.cropchoice.com/leadstry.asp?recid=735 Iowa GOP proposal would cut funding for Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture; http://www.cropchoice.com/leadstry.asp?recid=739 (June 6, 2002 – CropChoice news) -- The American Corn Growers Association (ACGA) is the only national farm or commodity group co-sponsoring WINDPOWER 2002, a conference and exhibition being held this week in Portland, Ore. The American Corn Growers Foundation, through ACGA’s Wealth From The Wind educational program, provided funding. ACGA works with both the American Wind Energy Association and the U.S. Department of Energy to promote wind power. "WINDPOWER 2002 is North America's largest wind industry trade show and exhibition with over 1,500 participants this year. It is the finest group of wind industry companies in the world and ACGA is proud to be a sponsor," said Dan McGuire, ACGA Program Director. McGuire added, "ACGA is continuing our role as the agricultural leader in support and promotion of wind power by calling for an expansion of two major tax credits for wind power generation. The wind Production Tax Credit (PTC), which will facilitate the development of larger-scale wind power projects, should be made permanent. The Small Turbine Investment Tax Credit, which will encourage the feasibility of smaller, on-farm and residential wind power units, needs to be both increased and made permanent. The proposal in the current energy bill before Congress only has a 30 percent tax credit capped at$2,000. McGuire explained that this is totally inadequate because smaller turbines cost anywhere from $15,000 - $20,000. Even if the 30-percent cost share were sufficient, which it isn’t, the cap needs to be raised at least to $6,000 to be realistic in the current market," McGuire said. "Rural America needs these positive tax credit improvements in the new energy bill as a long term economic development tool. Wind power can diversify farm income streams and create both temporary and permanent jobs in rural areas. The new farm bill allows for the construction of wind turbines on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres, a provision pushed and promoted by the ACGA. Now, the energy bill needs to be improved to move the wind industry forward in tandem with the CRP and other positive renewable energy provisions in the farm bill," concluded McGuire.