Windsor Beacon - Bennet Touts Tax Credit

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Manufacturing businesses focused on renewable energy are a key part of America's recovery.

U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) drove home that point during a tour Wednesday to the local Hexcel manufacturing plant in the Great Western Industrial Park.

"It's a good day to talk about wind," Bennet said, indicating the blustery weather outside. "The wind industry has become vital, and we know (this type) of industry will drive job growth and look forward, not backward."

Bennet and co-sponsor Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) introduced a bipartisan amendment to a transportation bill being considered by the U.S.

Senate last week to extend the wind energy production tax credit.

The visit to Hexcel, which manufactures advanced composites for use in a variety of fields including the wind energy field, was part of the strategy to push that amendment.Manufacturing businesses focused on renewable energy are a key part of America's recovery.

U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) drove home that point during a tour Wednesday to the local Hexcel manufacturing plant in the Great Western Industrial Park.

"It's a good day to talk about wind," Bennet said, indicating the blustery weather outside. "The wind industry has become vital, and we know (this type) of industry will drive job growth and look forward, not backward."

Bennet and co-sponsor Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) introduced a bipartisan amendment to a transportation bill being considered by the U.S.

Senate last week to extend the wind energy production tax credit.

The visit to Hexcel, which manufactures advanced composites for use in a variety of fields including the wind energy field, was part of the strategy to push that amendment.

"There are some in Congress who think we can horse around on this tax credit because it doesn't expire until the end of the year," Bennet said. "But businesses like this one need the stability in order to make long-term plans."

Hexcel Plant Manager Steven Corbiere said that 95 percent of Hexcel's production efforts go to the Windsor Vestas Blades America plant, just across the street in the Great Western Industrial Park.

"The supply chain is the primary reason we located here," Corbiere said. "Our product needs to be kept cold in transit, so this made sense."

Hexcel employs 103 people in its Windsor plant.

"We face an enormous challenge in this economy," Bennet said.

"We need to focus on bringing back manufacturing jobs, because even though they don't employ the numbers of people they once did, lots of smaller plants are still putting lots of people to work."

Bennet also indicated he feels there is bipartisan support in Congress for this amendment.

"We polled the members of the state delegation, and all but one supported this," he said. "Republicans and Democrats alike want to support this for our state."

"There are some in Congress who think we can horse around on this tax credit because it doesn't expire until the end of the year," Bennet said. "But businesses like this one need the stability in order to make long-term plans."

Hexcel Plant Manager Steven Corbiere said that 95 percent of Hexcel's production efforts go to the Windsor Vestas Blades America plant, just across the street in the Great Western Industrial Park.

"The supply chain is the primary reason we located here," Corbiere said. "Our product needs to be kept cold in transit, so this made sense."

Hexcel employs 103 people in its Windsor plant.

"We face an enormous challenge in this economy," Bennet said.

"We need to focus on bringing back manufacturing jobs, because even though they don't employ the numbers of people they once did, lots of smaller plants are still putting lots of people to work."

Bennet also indicated he feels there is bipartisan support in Congress for this amendment.

"We polled the members of the state delegation, and all but one supported this," he said. "Republicans and Democrats alike want to support this for our state."

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