Dive Brief:

• Several factors, including an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) ruling, are leading to an unusual calm just before the federal production tax credit (PTC) is set to expire, according to analysis by Platts.
• There has been a flurry of turbine purchases including 1,050 MW by MidAmerican Energy and 1,000 MW by NextEra Energy Resources that signal growth in the sector in the next couple years.
• The IRS rules have triggered a spate of merger and acquisitions.

Dive Insight:

The report notes that wind development has been supported by the "twin pillars" of the PTC and state renewable portfolio standards. Wind costs may have come down so much that the two supports may no longer be needed for further wind development.

“We don’t need both a RPS and the PTC; it is just cheaper [to finance] if you have the PTC,” said Kevin Sagara, vice president of renewables at Sempra US Gas & Power.