On Wednesday, the National Archives published an exclusive report, “CCP Profits Millions from Texas Governor Abbott’s ‘Green New Deal'”
An energy company with close ties to the Chinese Communist Party is profiting by millions a year from tax breaks, renewable energy credits offered by Greg Abbott’s green energy policies, the report said.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s green energy policies have paved the way for companies with deep ties to the Chinese Communist Party, such as GH America and Goldwind Americas, to benefit from tax breaks and renewable energy credits. They have profited by millions from tax breaks and renewable energy credits (RECs) at the expense of taxpayers.
The Rattlesnake wind farm receives more than $3.8 million in annual property tax breaks from the Brady ISD and will continue to receive this financial help until at least 2026, according to documents from Goldwind Americas, which acquired Rattlesnake LLC. in 2016.
These investments give the Communist government direct access to Texas’ energy grid and sensitive national security information, including security assessments that affect the health and performance of the grid. The National Archives has previously reported on the threat that Chinese energy companies pose to Texas’ energy grid and national security.
In a statement to The National Archives, Cary Cheshire, president of the Texas Association for Fiscal Responsibility, referred to Governor Abbott’s series of green proposals as “Abbott’s Green New Deal.
According to Cary, “Despite sitting on the largest reliable fuel reserves in the world, Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas government have been implementing their own Green New Deal by putting up more than $10 billion in taxpayer funds to subsidize operators of wind and solar energy.”
He added, “This state-run Green New Deal undermines the strength of our grid while transferring wealth from taxpayers to crony insiders and foreign governments.”
The unearthed documents released by the Texas Comptroller’s Office (TCO) highlight the antiquated nature of Governor Abbott’s green energy policies. State statutes, specifically Sections 312 and 313, authorize local school districts to create “reinvestment zones,” where companies can claim a 10-year tax abatement that exempts them from paying millions in potential property taxes that are used to fund Texas’ public schools. (Note: The comptroller is a public municipal government office in the United States. The comptroller is the city’s chief financial and auditing officer, who primarily oversees and audits the financial operations and budgetary operations of the various U.S. municipal finance departments, and is the most influential official title in the United States other than mayor.)
However, instead of allowing these arrangements to siphon millions of dollars away from Texas public Education, the Texas Legislature is reimbursing school districts that invest in renewable energy technologies and improvements – such as wind turbines and solar panels – with qualifying tax breaks.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) also administers a state exchange through which green energy companies can sell the energy they produce to the state in exchange for renewable energy credits (RECs). American Goldwind’s name can be found on the Electric Reliability Council’s list of eligible companies allowed to use renewable energy credits.
Calling it “deeply disturbing,” the Daily Mail documented in June 2020 the deep ties between American Goldwind and the Chinese Communist government, noting that 40 percent of American Goldwind’s top investors are known Communists.
Chris Ekstrom, a Dallas-area businessman and key donor to Greg Abbott’s 2014 gubernatorial campaign, recalled that “Greg Abbott promised not to ‘Californicate our Texas.'” He added, “Alas, he did worse. Abbott put the ‘dragon’ in our backyard! Communist China is putting a lot of money into our wind and solar farms.” He exclaimed, “Why?” Abbott is up for re-election again in 2022.
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