Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) offered a substitute amendment to H.R. 3474, the Hire More Heroes Act of 2014, which would extend dozens of tax incentives, including vital clean energy tax credits. The package of tax extenders, known collectively as the Expiring Provisions Improvement Reform and Efficiency (EXPIRE) Act, would extend several energy efficiency incentives and the Production Tax Credit (PTC), which is particularly critical to the continued growth of wind energy. Clean energy tax credits like the PTC have a proven track record of increasing investment, decreasing costs, creating jobs, and reducing pollution. On May 15, the Senate rejected the motion to end debate and proceed to the EXPIRE Act by a vote of 53-40 (60 votes were needed to invoke cloture; Senate roll call vote 157).YES IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE. President Obama signed a shorter-term tax extenders package that included the PTC into law on December 19; however, this only extended tax credits through the end of 2014.

Note: Senator Reid initially voted pro-environment but switched his vote for procedural reasons.