“The time for Congress to take action is now,” said Denise Bode, CEO of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), a member of the coalition. “Our industry is at a crossroads with thousands of manufacturing jobs in the balance and with businesses and investors watching to see if the U.S. passes legislation supporting renewable energy.”
“Provisions to advance renewable energy and efficiency policies have historically enjoyed bipartisan support and can drive successful passage of energy legislation by Congress this summer,” said Senator Daschle. “Efficiency and renewable energy are critical to building a vibrant economy and creating jobs, as well as avoiding carbon emissions and strengthening our energy security.”
The coalition recommends at least four fundamental provisions that will be critical to any successful package:
* Robust and predictable tax and other financial incentives for projects and manufacturing, including extension of the Treasury Grant Program.
* Energy efficiency codes and standards including an energy efficiency resource standard (EERS)
* A strong Renewable Electricity Standard (RES)
* Renewable energy infrastructure provisions
Wind energy industry representatives who came to Washington D.C. to meet with Senators to press for such legislation participated in the press conference.
"Today's wind power industry is a global business,” said Steve Dayney, CEO of REPower, a global wind turbines manufacturer. “Investment will follow where demand for our products is created by long-term, consistent policies, not a boom and bust cycle of on and off support for renewable energy. Passage of a federal RES will help open the doors to a wave of manufacturing investment in the USA."
"This industry has built a national manufacturing base that provides a path for energy independence and jobs in the U.S.," said Steve Lockard, President and CEO of TPI Composites, Inc. "We need Congress to pass a robust RES now to enhance market demand and keep the wind energy industry on target to create hundreds of thousands of U.S jobs and transition our country to a more balanced energy portfolio."
“Put effective policies in place and businesses will read the signal,” agreed Susan Nickey, CFO of Acciona North America. “Acciona has a wind turbine assembly plant in Iowa. To build out an all-American supply chain here in the U.S., we and our suppliers need a clear signal and steady policy, with a strong national Renewable Electricity Standard as the centerpiece.”
The members of the coalition include: The Alliance to Save Energy, The American Wind Energy Association, the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, the Biomass Power Association, Growth Energy, the Energy Recovery Council, the Geothermal Energy Association, the National Hydropower Association, and the Solar Energy Industries Association.
AWEA is the national trade association of America’s wind industry, with more than 2,500 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.
