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legislative affairs
Grassroots Program – Join AWEA’s Grassroots program, aimed at maximizing AWEA members’ connections with elected officials for the benefit of the wind industry. AWEA will use this information for targeted legislative action alerts. If you are friends with, related to, or have a personal connection with a Member of Congress, Governor, or state legislator, or their staff, AWEA would like to know! Please download the Grassroots form and take action today.
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Question: What does it mean to be a Grassroots Program Participant?
Answer: Grassroots Program Participants opt in to the Grassroots Program by asserting that they will advocate AWEA’s legislative agenda to his/her elected officials. Grassroots Program Participants are expected to participant in some, if not all, of the following activities:
- Subscribe to their Members’ of Congress newsletters. Newsletters keep Grassroots Participants informed of the elected officials’ legislative priorities and upcoming town hall meetings.
- Respond to AWEA’s emailed legislative action alerts and make every effort to personalize the provided sample letter. Instead of emailing the letter to elected officials, participants are urged to print out the letter on letterhead and fax it to the officials’ offices.
- Forward AWEA’s emailed legislative action alerts to employees in their company and encourage them to personalize the sample letter provided in the alert.
- Attend town hall meetings of Members of Congress and express their concerns about legislation affecting wind energy.
- Visit their Members of Congress or their staffs at one of the state offices and discuss wind energy issues. AWEA will provide talking points and fact sheets for the visits.
- Invite their Members of Congress to project dedications or groundbreaking ceremonies.
- Invite one of their Members of Congress to tour their facility or office.
Question: What does a Grassroots Program Participant receive from AWEA?
Answer: Grassroots Program Participants receive many materials to assist in advocating AWEA’s legislative agenda. Here are some of the materials that you will receive:
- The monthly Grassroots Program e-Newsletter.
- Periodic emails on important websites and town hall meetings in your Congressional district.
- A Congressional & District Information Brochure with information on your Senators and your Representative, including information on what committees your Members of Congress sit on and how those committees can affect the wind energy industry.
- A Grassroots Lobbying Guide that includes tips on contacting your Members of Congress and sample letters and invitations.
- AWEA Fact Sheets and talking points on the wind energy industry’s legislative priorities.
Question: How do I join the Grassroots Program?
Answer: Download a Grassroots Program form or email braum@awea.org.
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 AWEA’s Targeted Grassroots Initiatives: Legislative Action Website - During the year, a particular bill or issue will arise and we will need you to “Take Action.” AWEA will send you a “ Take Action Alert” message email with a link to the AWEA’s Legislative Action Website, which will provide you with the tools to quickly and easily contact your elected officials with a personalized message. If you would like to research the issue or bill in further detail, the website always has the latest legislative developments affecting the wind energy industry. It is important to remember that AWEA sends "Take Action Alert" messages only when they will have the maximum impact on the issue or piece of legislation.
Are you registered for AWEA’s Take Action Alerts? All AWEA members with email addresses on file are already registered. If you do not think you are registered, click on this link to receive future AWEA Take Action Alerts.
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Project Dedication Program – Do you have a wind project dedication or a groundbreaking ceremony coming up? AWEA can help your company by offering support, whether it is hand delivering the dedication invitation to a Member of Congress or following up with appropriate Congressional, federal agency or state government staff. This event will provide you and your staff with the chance to develop a deeper relationship with your elected officials and help promote the benefits of wind energy in Congress. Let AWEA know about your upcoming project dedication by emailing braum@awea.org or filling out the Project Dedication form.
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Congressional Tour program - In partnership with the project and facility owners, AWEA organizes tours for Members of Congress in order to create relationships and to educate Congressional leaders on wind energy issues . During the visit and tour of your facility, the elected official will have an opportunity to speak with your staff and gain a better perspective into the inner workings of your business. This event will provide you and your staff with the chance to develop a deeper relationship with your representative. Contact AWEA if you are interested in participating by emailing braum@awea.org or download a sample Congressional Tour invitation.
Click here to see photos from previous Congressional Tours.
| Grassroots tips - In addition to participating in AWEA’s activities, here are other things you can do to promote wind issues in Congress. |
1. Get politically active. Give money directly to candidates who support wind energy interests, donate to a Political Action Committee that represents your interests, or volunteer your time. Candidates remember who helped get them elected and that will help you make your views known.
2. Get to know your elected representatives. Do not wait until an urgent issue, like the PTC extension coming up for renewal, to contact your representative. Meet with them when they are in your district, or if you are in DC, and spend time discussing your business and some of the issues that you face every day. That way when you do have an urgent issue, the legislator knows your business and you have credibility.
3. Tell AWEA about what you are doing to promote wind energy in the political arena. AWEA collects this information and uses it for targeted legislative outreach initiatives. Whether you went to an event with your representative in your hometown or you had dinner with the President of the United States, AWEA wants to know.
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Want to know about other ways you can get active in the Grassroots program? Contact AWEA Grassroots Outreach Coordinator at 202-383-2513 or email braum@awea.org.
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