The market in the United States has gained appeal because the federal government has extended incentives for wind energy.
Both G.M. and Chrysler today said they were extending incentives to 2004 models, though the new selling year does not officially start until Oct. 1.
A September survey by Public Policy Polling, for instance, found that 53percentt of undecided voters in battleground states said they would support a Congressional candidate who wants to extend tax incentives for wind power, while 31percentt would choose the candidate who would kill those incentives.
At the same time, G.M. said it was extending its incentives to 2003 model vehicles, which are starting to arrive in showrooms, seeking to keep its momentum going.
In the Senate, the majority forced votes on extending tax incentives for alternative power sources and on new taxes on oil companies to pay for energy research.
The area also is expected to have more time to prove itself as a residential neighborhood, because the legislation extending tax incentives for the conversions for five years, to 2007, has passed both houses of the State Legislature.
The state reformed many of its laws and procedures that were unfriendly to business, extended various incentives for new enterprises, and reformed many of the political institutions and corrupt practices that had tarnished the state's image.
At Saturday's event, Mr. Pawlenty, who has since withdrawn from the race, and Mr. Gingrich spoke in favor of extending tax incentives in the form of production tax credits.
And two thirds of Americans want to extend tax incentives for clean energy.
Congress even extended tax incentives for wind and solar energy - reinforcing, rather than undercutting, the Clean Power Plan.
