On Sept. 20, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) ruled that wind projects started by Dec. 31, 2013 – and placed into service by Dec. 31, 2015 – are eligible to qualify for the production tax credit (PTC). The IRS guidance means that wind developers planning PTC-eligible wind farms have a bit more cushion built into construction planning than previously thought.
With the urgency to complete projects alleviated, some wind developers tell NAW that they haven’t begun to worry about securing main erection cranes, which are critical components for wind farm construction.
John Lamontagne, spokesperson at Boston-based developer First Wind, says the company does not expect to begin construction on wind projects until “mid-2014 at the earliest.â€
Blake Nixon, president at Minneapolis-based developer Geronimo Wind Energy, agrees that developers are in no rush. The 2015 deadline, he says, alleviates much of the urgency that was previously thought would happen in the beginning of 2014.
Blake Nixon, president at Minneapolis-based developer Geronimo Wind Energy, agrees that developers are in no rush. The 2015 deadline, he says, alleviates much of the urgency that was previously thought would happen in the beginning of 2014.
While crane procurement is not top of mind for wind developers (at least not yet), you can bet it is for their contractors and service providers charged with providing the machines.
