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WIND INDUSTRY PRAISES CHAIRMEN WAXMAN AND
MARKEY FOR UPHOLDING RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY
STANDARD IN HOUSE CLIMATE & ENERGY BILL

Washington, D.C. – The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) today issued the following statement by AWEA CEO Denise Bode on the mark-up of climate and energy legislation in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The comprehensive legislation next goes to the full House for debate and consideration.

“The U.S. wind energy industry is pleased that Chairmen Waxman and Markey prevented further weakening of the Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) included in the energy and climate legislation. The RES provisions represent the most immediate and direct measure in the bill to create jobs and reduce carbon emissions,” said AWEA CEO Denise Bode. “We look forward to working with the full House to enact an RES that will provide the certainty businesses need to invest in new factories and ensure the U.S. does not cede manufacturing investment and jobs to other countries that are competing to build up their renewable energy industries.”

The bill passed by the Committee includes an RES of 20% by 2020, permitting states to allow up to 8% of the standard to be met through energy efficiency improvements.  AWEA has indicated that while it hails the recognition of the importance of a national RES, such a low level – less than one-half the level originally proposed by President Obama and in Chairman Markey’s original discussion draft -- could severely blunt the signal to the private sector to invest billions of dollars and expand production, manufacturing, and job creation.

A strong RES has nationwide and bipartisan support. A national poll conducted by Garin Hart Yang Research Group from April 29-May 1 found that:

• The national 25% by 2025 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 to 75% support in the Midwest and West and 71% support in the South.
    

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 About the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA):
AWEA is the national trade association of America’s wind industry, with more than 1,900 member companies, including global leaders in wind power and energy development, wind turbine manufacturing, component and service suppliers, and the world’s largest wind power trade show. AWEA is the voice of wind energy in the U.S., promoting renewable energy to power a cleaner, stronger America.  Look up information on wind energy at the AWEA Web site. Find insight on industry issues at AWEA’s blog Into the Wind. Join AWEA on Facebook. Follow AWEA on Twitter.

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