TV ad for wind industry twists truth, FactCheck.org says as it solicits submissions from 'spin detectors'

The American Wind Energy Association, a wind-energy lobbying group, is running a $1.4 million ad campaign called "Weld by Weld" in 11 states, according to Kantar Media's Campaign Media Analysis Group. However, FactCheck.org has found the lobby's TV ads distort the facts about the industry and taxes. The ad claims Congress is "threatening new taxes" that will target wind power, and that the industry will support 500,000 new jobs within 20 years. Both statements are false, FactCheck says. (Photo of American Wind Energy Association ad)

No new taxes have been proposed. Congress is instead considering whether to renew an existing $1.3 billion-a-year tax break for the industry that's set to expire at the end of the year. FactCheck says the industry may create half a billion jobs over 20 years, but the jobs would "displace jobs and economic activity elsewhere." The website says the tax break debate in the ad couldn't be airing at a worse time for the wind industry because natural gas is "already bringing stiff competition" making wind energy not economical even with a tax subsidy. Also, some Republican legislators are pushing to repeal all tax breaks for renewable energy, fueled mostly by the failure of Solyndra. (Read more)

FactCheck is soliciting journalistic contributions for its service, which holds politicians accountable for things they say, and not just in TV ads. To find out how to become a "spin detector" for the service, by providing campaign materials or recordings that contain false or misleading information, click here.