REGION & NATION

REGION

Seeking VITA volunteers

The IRS and its partners are looking for volunteers to help prepare federal and state tax returns through the VITA program.

VITA volunteers prepare simple federal and state tax returns for people whose incomes are $49,000 or less in Ohio and West Virginia, said Eric Erickson, IRS spokesman.

The IRS provides free training materials to community organizations that sponsor VITA. Training classes generally start in December and January. Volunteers generally spend two to four hours per week from February through April 15 helping people.

To volunteer and attend one of the volunteer training classes in Northern Ohio, call (216) 522-7077.

NATION

Few autos returned to GM

NEW YORK — General Motors Co. says only 15 vehicles, or about 4 percent of those eligible, have been returned so far under the automaker’s much-touted money-back guarantee program.

Spokesman Tom Henderson says that small figure signals a vote of confidence in GM’s products.

GM launched its much-touted 60-day money-back guarantee program Sept. 14. The policy allows buyers to return their vehicle between Day 31 and Day 60 of ownership, meaning the first refund requests started coming in last Thursday.

Grant helps wind industry

DENVER — The nation’s wind industry is opening new wind farms with the help of nearly $1 billion in federal stimulus grant money.

The American Wind Energy Association reported Tuesday that developers installed 1,649 megawatts of wind power capacity — enough to serve the equivalent of 480,000 average households — in the third quarter. That is about 18.7 percent more than a year earlier.

The association says it expects the industry to add about 6,000 megawatts of additional wind-generated capacity this year, down from the 8,358 megawatts installed in 2008.

Vindicator staff/wire reports