U.S. Spending Bill Holds Win for Wind Energy, Solar Suffers Setbacks

U.S. clean energy producers would get only some of what they hoped for under a massive U.S. spending bill unveiled late Monday, with wind developers getting more time to land a big subsidy and solar developers losing their bid to extend a key investment credit.

Under the bill, wind energy projects would be able to qualify for a 30 per cent Investment Tax Credit if they start construction by Jan. 1, 2021 - as opposed to current law requiring them to break ground by Jan. 1, 2020 to get the credit, according to the amendment.

Capital Alpha Partners, a political and financial consultancy, said the amendment could benefit European power company Iberdrola, which is hoping to build America's first big offshore wind farm - Vineyard Wind - but is dealing with federal permitting delays.

Meanwhile, the bill would preserve a planned reduction scheduled to begin next year in an investment tax credit for solar companies, a setback for solar companies that had been lobbying.