That really hurt the turbine manufacturers in the past - first by keeping some brand new factories idle after they invested to cover expected demand, and then by making them rush the next year to cover extra orders, and having supply and quality problems. Both things made them lose money, and the industry was really, really hurt in 2004-05.
So turbine manufacturers will underinvest as long as the PTC is not renewed for longer than a couple of years, which doesn't look like it's happening this time round, again. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
The PTC currently expires at the end of 2008, and significant Capex has already been made. Most analysts had no worries of an extension until recently. There was talk of decoupling renewables from the contentious energy bill, where the dinosaurs are fighting it out. Several days ago Pelosi announced that there was some kind of agreement bringing renewables back into the mix, but that remains to be seen. Since there is general bipoartisan support for the PTC it's hard to imagine it wouldn't be extended, but i've seen weirder things happen around energy policy in amurka.
AWEA was going for a 5 year extension, and i believe at least 3 years can be counted on. But the risk of no extension has surfaced over the past two months. "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin
I understood that there has been steady demand these past few years, worldwide I mean. Have I got that wrong, or was/is there a reason why US manufacturers aren't in the export business? Don't fight forces, use them R. Buckminster Fuller.
