USA - Wind industry leaders warn Congress that a weak RES could cede jobs to Asia, Europe

A group of representatives from major wind industry companies today released a letter to key members of Congress urging them to strengthen the renewable electricity standard (RES) contained in the draft bill unveiled this week by House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Henry Waxman.

“We are concerned that the significantly lower renewable targets currently being discussed, as compared to proposals from President Obama, Chairman Bingaman and Chairman Markey, will severely blunt the signal for companies like ours that manufacture turbines and components to invest billions of dollars to expand production and our workforces in the U.S.,” the letter said.

It was signed by representatives of GE Energy, Vestas Americas, Gamesa, NRG Systems, REPower USA, Broadwind Energy, TPI Composites, PPG Industries, Clipper Windpower and AWEA.

“A national RES is one of the strongest policies to promote more renewable energy because the combination of long-term demand and an immediate market triggers investment in manufacturing facilities. An RES provides specific near-, mid-, and long-market demand that other policies do not offer,” the letter said.

The Waxman bill, co-introduced by Rep. Edward Markey, chairman of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee, includes a renewable electricity standard that is less than one-half the level proposed by President Obama and Chairman Markey’s original proposal. AWEA supports an RES of 25% by 2025.

The letter also warned, “America is on the verge of losing the wind manufacturing industry to Asia and Europe. There is significant international trade in wind turbines and the competition to host this industry is intense. America trails its competition in passing stable renewable energy policy commitments. Thirty-seven other countries have firm commitments.”

For more information please contact Trevor Sievert at ts@windfair.net