Supporters of wind energy cheered final passage in Congress of the bill to avert the “fiscal cliff.”

The bill included a one-year extension of the wind energy Production Tax Credit for projects that start construction this year.

This statement came from the American Wind Energy Association: “America’s 75,000 workers in wind energy are celebrating tonight over the continuation of policies expected to save up to 37,000 jobs and create far more over time, and to revive business at nearly 500 manufacturing facilities across the country.”

Gov. Sam Brownback has touted Kansas’ growth in wind energy and supported extension of the credit. But he has also called for phasing it out over several years.