April

Wind industry applauds Governors' Wind Energy Coalition recommendations

American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) CEO Denise Bode has praised the recommendations recently issued by the Governors' Wind Energy Coalition.

"The Governors' recommendations to the President and to Congress show that there is a strong agreement that an interstate transmission infrastructure and Renewable Electricity Standard are needed and welcome from the point of view of the states and not just the national public interest," said Bode. 

"The Governors know this because they are on the front lines of the battle to attract manufacturing investment and create jobs, and they see that renewable energy development brings jobs to their states. States are also on the front lines in transmission planning-and in this document, the Governors make it clear that they look forward to working with the federal government to build new interstate high-voltage transmission lines to diversify our energy portfolio with renewable energy, improve the reliability of the nation's power system, and contain electricity costs." The Governors called for the following actions by Congress and the Administration:

• Adopt a national Renewable Electricity Standard.
   
• Develop new interstate electric transmission system infrastructure as needed to provide access to premier renewable energy resources both onshore and offshore.
   
• Fully support coastal, deep water, and offshore wind energy technology and transmission research and development.
   
• Streamline permitting processes for both offshore and onshore wind energy development projects.
   
• Expand the U.S. Department of Energy's work with the States and the wind industry to accelerate innovation.

Extend the Treasury Department grant program in lieu of the Investment Tax Credit and adopt a long-term Renewable Energy Tax Production Tax Credit with provisions to broaden the pool of eligible investors.

http://www.awea.org/newsroom/releases/03-16-10-Wind_Industry_Applauds_Governors_Recoomendations.html