USA - New house agreement recognizes importance of renewable electricity standard (RES)

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) today issued the following statement by AWEA CEO Denise Bode regarding the agreement by House Energy & Commerce Committee Democrats on a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES):

“The U.S. wind energy industry is hopeful because the agreement reached in the House Energy and Commerce Committee recognizes the importance of a national Renewable Electricity Standard—the most immediate and direct way to create jobs and reduce carbon emissions—and we thank Chairmen Waxman and Markey for their efforts. However, we are disappointed that the renewable energy target in the bill could be as low as 12 percent by 2020—less than one-half the level proposed by President Obama and Chairman Markey. And, from an employment standpoint, by lowering the standard and limiting additional deployment, well over 100,000 jobs are being left on the cutting room floor."

“It is clear from the election results this past November and numerous polls that Americans across the political spectrum put renewable energy deployment near the top of their list of policy priorities for very good reasons. The voters are right, because wind and other renewable energy technologies are one of very few options that can be deployed on a large scale quickly in this critical decade to reverse greenhouse gas emissions growth and create new domestic manufacturing jobs. America is competing for these new manufacturing jobs with 37 other countries, including China, that have firm renewable electricity commitments in place. We look forward to working with Chairmen Waxman and Markey and the House leadership as the process moves forward to ensure that the RES provision is strengthened.”

Background:

A national poll conducted by Garin Hart Yang Research Group from April 29-May 1 found that:

- The national 25% RES draws strong and deep support: Three-quarters (75%) of voters favor an RES proposal requiring electric utility companies across the nation to generate at least 25% of their electricity through renewable energy sources by 2025, and that support is deep: a 53% majority strongly favors a national RES, dwarfing the total of those who oppose (both “strongly” and “somewhat”) (16%).

- Support for the RES is bipartisan: 62% of Republicans favor the RES proposal, as do 71% of independents and 86% of Democrats.

-Support for the RES runs nationwide, ranging from 84% positive in the Northeast, three-quarters support in the Midwest and West, and 71% support in the South.

Wind energy is an important source of new manufacturing jobs. The wind energy industry contributes directly to the economies of 46 states with power plants and manufacturing facilities. In 2008, the wind industry opened, expanded, or announced 55 manufacturing facilities, and generated 35,000 jobs. Overall, today, over 85,000 American jobs in manufacturing, construction, operations and services reflect the wind industry¹s continuing growth. The CEO of GE Energy, John Krenicki, Jr., recently testified that “We believe wind and solar energy are likely to be among the largest sources of new manufacturing jobs worldwide during the 21st century.” A Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) study found that a 25% RES by 2025 would create 297,000 jobs.

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