UNITED STATES: Donald Trump’s surprise win in the presidential election should have little immediate impact on the country’s wind energy market, say industry leaders and market analysts.
But his vow to roll back the Obama administration’s climate change efforts raises questions about the long-term market drivers for the sector.
The industry’s growth in recent years has been propelled by plummeting costs, aggressive state climate and energy policies, and the $0.023/kWh production tax credit (PTC).
“I don’t think any of those three things are likely to change as a result of Trump’s win,” says Richard Glick, general counsel for the Democrats on the Senate energy committee.
With the PTC not scheduled to phase out before the end of 2019, the sector is “looking at three or four years of solid growth baked-in already,” notes Greg Whetstone, CEO of the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE).(more)