Top Wind Utility: Wind subsidy benefits industry, not consumers

The biggest wind energy purchaser in the country may sever ties with the industry’s largest trade group in the wake of a bitter fight to sustain subsidies for wind energy producers that, the company says, benefit producers at the expense of utilities and electricity consumers.

Xcel Energy, which had the largest wind energy capacity of any utility in the country in 2011, said it is “reviewing our relationship” with the American Wind Energy Association, in the words of John O’Donnell, a company lobbyist.

“It’s our concern that they continue to represent the interests of developers to… [continue via Web link]