GOP leaves wind credit out of party platform - Layoffs at Clipper Windpower

GOP KEEPS WIND PTC OUT OF PLATFORM: Republican Party representatives in Tampa yesterday kept support for the wind production tax credit and other renewable energy subsidies out of the party’s official platform ahead of next week’s convention. North Dakota Sen. John Hoeven, co-chairman of the policy committee, said members instead decided to speak in generalities about an all-of-the-above energy policy. “The language we have is more general,” he said. “How you get there perhaps can differ, but I think it’s consistent with Gov. Romney.” POLITICO’s James Hohmann has more on the committee’s work on national security, gay marriage and more: http://politi.co/RcTmme

MORE WIND LAYOFFS: The RNC’s decision to leave out extending the wind PTC came the same day as more industry layoffs. Clipper Windpower, a manufacturer with facilities around the country, including one in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, told employees yesterday it is cutting 174 of the company’s 550 positions. The California-based company didn’t specifically blame the PTC’s looming expiration for the layoffs, citing only “continued challenges facing our industry and our company.” Clipper was sold earlier this month by United Technologies to Platinum Equity of California. The Gazette has more: http://bit.ly/P9G8TF