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newsroom
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 31, 2006 |
Contact:
Kathy Belyeu (202) 383-2520
Christine Real de Azua (202) 383-2508 |
State of the Union Advance: AWEA Statement on Wind Energy's Role as Part of a Balanced Energy Policy
Washington, D.C. - With President Bush preparing to deliver the State of
the Union address tonight, numerous media outlets are reporting that his
speech will focus on the need to support energy policies that reduce
America's dependence on imports. To that end, Randall Swisher, Executive
Director of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), today issued
the following statement:
"The American wind energy industry welcomes leadership on energy policy
from the President and Congress, and calls for the development of wind
power -- a strategic national resource -- as a major component of a
balanced energy policy."
"At a time when customers across the country are facing electricity and
natural gas rate hikes due to the natural gas supply shortage, wind
power is an attractive option to consumers and businesses alike. Wind
energy works because it generates energy without fuel, while providing a
reliable hedge against rising energy costs. Wind energy works because
the wind energy industry is a good steward of the environment and
provides pollution-free, domestically generated electricity to support
our economy."
"In 2005, the U.S. enjoyed its most productive year for wind energy
development in history, adding more than 2,400 megawatts of wind energy
production-enough to serve the equivalent of more than 650,000 homes--to
the nation's power grid. We project that 2006 will top that record."
"To further tap this underutilized, strategic resource, a balanced
energy policy should:
- remove current barriers to wind energy development in electric
market rules;
- support a long-term extension of the wind energy production tax
credit to encourage investment in the industry; and
- fully tap wind energy's potential for domestic electricity
production through improved access and upgrades to existing transmission
lines and creation of
new ones."
"Wind energy works for America's economy, environment, and energy
security, and must be a part of the nation's energy policy if we are to
achieve our country's full energy potential."
AWEA, formed in 1974, is the national trade association of the U.S. wind
energy industry.
The association's membership includes turbine manufacturers, wind project
developers,
utilities, academicians, and interested individuals. More information on
wind energy
is available at the AWEA web site: www.awea.org.
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