To the editor:

An April 13 Journal-World article gave us great news: Kansas is leading the nation in current wind energy production! But along with the good news came a warning: Unless Congress extends the wind energy production tax credit, it’s likely the wind will soon be knocked right out of our sails. Hopefully our Members of Congress will vote to extend this tax credit.

Even better if our political leaders would vote for carbon fee and dividend legislation. By placing a tax on carbon at its source (well, mine, port of entry) and then steadily increasing this fee each year, renewable energy would receive a clear, consistent market signal. This would encourage entrepreneurs and investors to invest fully into the green energy economy, with an estimated 4.5 million new jobs as another attractive dividend!

Carbon fee and dividend also shields the poor and middle class from undue economic hardship by returning all the tax collected to American households on an equitable basis. With this legislation, 70 percent of households would actually receive more than they would pay for the increased cost of clean energy.

Sen. Roberts, Sen. Moran, Rep. Yoder and Rep. Jenkins, I sincerely hope you will extend the wind energy production tax AND also vote for carbon fee and dividend legislation. This is your chance to ensure Kansas continues to lead the way in wind production, and also leads the way in downright clever thinking.