News
Wind Energy Works! Updates
Stay up-to-date on Wind Energy Works! members, wind energy development, renewable energy legislation and more.
Wind energy in the news
News releases from the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)
Read about legislative priorities from the industry
Tell Us About Your Clean Energy Job!
Posted on July 15th, 2009
Right now, the Senate faces an historic opportunity to support the President’s goals, and help our country transition to a clean energy economy.
We need your help! As Congress debates comprehensive climate and clean energy legislation, we need to tell our leaders in Washington how important it is to put Americans to work in clean energy jobs.
We are looking for your wind industry job stories to use for our websites, communications, and grassroots campaigns. We want to know just how important these jobs are to you, your family and the American economy. Whether you manufacture wind turbine components, drive a truck hauling rotor blades, lease your land to a wind farm operator, or operate a crane erecting wind towers, we want to hear what the wind economy means to you.
Please click on this link and tell us how your experience in the wind industry is helping our country build a new 21st century clean energy economy.
Contact Your Senators and Support the RES
Posted on July 15th, 2009
Click here to contact your Senators.
Please contact your Senators and urge them to strengthen and pass the energy bill that includes a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES). The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved the energy bill, The American Clean Energy Leadership Act, out of committee on June 17, 2009. The bill contains a 15% renewable electricity by 2020 standard, allowing for 4% of the standard to be met through energy efficiency improvements. The bill is expected to be considered by the full Senate this fall.
See how your Representative voted on the recent energy bill containing a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES)
AWEA Issues 20% Report Card
Posted on July 15th, 2009
AWEA issued a report card marking progress a year after the release of the US Department of Energy’s 20% Wind by 2030 Report. The AWEA Report Card gave a C- to the nation’s efforts on Transmission, with the other indicator areas graded as follows: Technology Development A-, Manufacturing B+, and Siting B. (The report card does not grade progress on national policies to advance wind power, as those were not examined in the DOE report.)
According to AWEA, key policy ingredients needed to put the U.S. back on track to reach 20% wind by 2030 include:
- A strong Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) with aggressive near-term targets in energy legislation now pending in Congress. “A strong RES is essential to give businesses the certainty they need to invest in factories in the U.S. and create new jobs,” Gramlich said. “There is an opportunity to reach 500,000 U.S. jobs related to the wind industry alone under a 20% scenario, but a commitment from manufacturers and wind companies to add jobs requires a commitment from the U.S. policymakers to domestic renewable energy.”
- Energy legislation that addresses top transmission issues—planning, paying for, and siting new power lines. Commented Gramlich, “New transmission is critical, not only to develop our abundant renewable energy resources, but to upgrade and improve the reliability of the existing transmission system.”
The full AWEA 20% Report Card is available at: http://www.20percentwind.org/AWEA20percentReportCard09.pdf
WEW! Member Interfaith Power & Light weighs in on Climate
Posted on May 26
Message from Rev. Cannon Sally G. Bingham:
The U.S. Congress took another step toward comprehensive regulations to curb greenhouse gas emissions on Friday with the release of H.R. 2454, by Congressmen Henry Waxman and Ed Markey. All week, the bill has been the target of hundreds of proposed amendments, mostly intended to weaken its impact or limit its scope, during the "mark up" process in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Passage out of this committee, considered one of the toughest for environmental policies, will be a major victory for advocates of climate protection.
The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 was initially released as a "discussion draft" in April. [Read our previous update] Over the past two months there has been an onslaught of attacks by interest groups opposed to action on climate, heavy lobbying by the fossil fuel industries, all focusing on about a dozen moderate and conservative lawmakers from the South, Rust Belt and Intermountain West.
Interfaith Power & Light and others in the faith community have also been weighing in. On May 6th, 50 IPL state leaders descended on the Capitol to deliver the message from the faith community: global warming is a moral issue and we must pass effective and equitable climate policy this year. IPLs in five states have also been running ads in local newspapers and printing op-eds urging fence-sitting congressmembers to pass the bill out of committee. [View ad]
Interfaith Power & Light will continue to work for the strongest bill possible, despite some setbacks in terms of new provisions that weaken the bill and reduce funding available for vulnerable communities. We expect there will be many more chances to influence the policy as it continues through the legislative process, and we'll keep you in the loop and send out alerts at opportune moments so you can contact your legislators. [Read about the details of the bill]
On Tuesday, the president announced a plan to adopt California's law to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from autos nationally, requiring vehicles to reach 35.5 miles per gallon average by 2016. This encouraging step continues the momentum in Washington for serious action on climate, and gives me hope that this will be the year the U.S. finally turns the corner toward a clean energy future that safeguards human health and all of God's creation.
Keep the faith,
The Rev. Canon Sally G. Bingham
E-mail your Senators and Representatives now!
Posted on May 26
Message from Steering Committee Member Tom Gray:
This spring, as the temperatures begin to rise in Washington, DC, the debate over energy policy is heating up -- with the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives' energy committees both considering a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) after the Memorial Day holiday. The RES, which enables renewable energy sources to provide a growing amount of the nation's electricity, would, for the first time, provide a long-term commitment to renewable energy in the U.S.
A national RES is not only favored by 75% of Americans as shown in this recent poll -- it also promises to create hundreds of thousands of American jobs and foster a healthier and more secure environmental future. Take a look, and share with your friends, this video testimonial that shows the meaning of wind industry jobs to Americans who have been laid off in a down economy and are excited about new careers.
Unfortunately, as the RES provision moves through Congress, the strength of the standard is being watered down. At this critical moment in the reshaping of our nation's energy policy, we need your help. Please take a stand now - e-mail your Senators and Representatives and ask them to support a strong RES policy.
Thanks for your support!
Sincerely,
Tom Gray
Director of Communications
American Wind Energy Association
You can stay informed of the latest wind industry developments during this exciting time by following AWEA on the
Into the Wind blog,
Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and flickr.
AWEA's New TV Ads - Green Jobs
Posted on May 26
Watch the new AWEA RES TV commercial and corresponding webisodes that were created at the Cardinal Fastener and Gamesa wind manufacturing plants. Look for the AWEA RES commercial on Meet the Press in the DC area through June and July.
AWEA Commercial
Webisode 1: Renewable Electricity, American Jobs
Webisode 2: Commit to Renewable Electricity, Commit to the American Worker
WEW! Celebrates Indiana’s listing As the Fastest Growing Wind State in the Nation and Looks to Promote a National RES to Senator Bayh and Senator Lugar
Posted on April 23th, 2009
In 2008 Indiana ranked as the fastest-growing state for wind energy installations: Growing from 0 to 130 MW installed in a single year. Today, Indiana continues to be the state where wind power is growing at the fastest rate. With the completion of a new 400 MW project (straddling Benton and Tippecanoe counties, Indiana wind power installations expanded by 407% in the first quarter. And with two April 2009 groundbreakings on a 200 MW project in White County and a 106 MW project in Benton County, IN could potentially have a total of 836 MW installed by the end of the year, ensuring it will be on the list of the fastest-growing states again for 2009.
Due to these significant and substantial energy and economic infrastructure development projects, Indiana MW installed could be on par with Oklahoma, Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota by the end of 2009.
With this wind potential and support of a 25% National Renewable Electricity Standard from Indiana Senator’s Lugar and Bayh, WEW! believes Indiana can be a significant player on the road to economic recovery through green jobs and energy independence.
WEW! Members AWEA and The Minnesota Project launch new blogs
Posted on April 23th, 2009
Recently AWEA and The Minnesota Project added blogs to their arsenal of communication tools.
The AWEA blog can be found here.
The AWEA Twitter page can be viewed here.
The Minnesota Project Blog can be seen here.
WEW! Encourages all members to take part in these communication sharing tools as an effort to catalogue, identify and report emerging trends in renewable energy development.
Smart Power is promoting a college carbon competition.
Posted on April 23th, 2009
Smart Power announces that one week after its launch, more than 4,000 individuals from over 10% of the colleges across the country have joined America's Greenest Campus, and are becoming energy smart in their everyday lives.
There's $10,000 at stake for the schools that prove to be the greenest. The school with the most CO2 reductions per person will win $5,000 for its campus energy and environment projects--as will the school with the most number of participants.
WEW! is urging all members and visitors to sign the Pickens Plan letter to Congress about reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Please click here to sign the Pickens Plan interactive form
Posted on April 23th, 2009
Text Below Provided by The Pickens Plan:
Our dependence on foreign oil forms the intersection of the three most critical issues America currently faces – the economy, the environment and our national security.
America is blessed with the world’s greatest wind power corridor and abundant reserves of clean natural gas. The Pickens Plan will utilize these tremendous resources to build a bridge to the future – a blueprint to reduce foreign oil dependence by harnessing domestic energy alternatives and buying time for us to develop even greater new technologies.
We’ve come a long way since the Pickens Plan was launched in July 2008. Please join us now and send a message to Congress asking them to support the Pickens Plan and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Please join today.
Wind Energy Works! is urging all members and visitors to sign the Pickens Plan letter to Congress about reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Please click here to sign the Pickens Plan interactive form.
AWEA is urging all members and visitors to contact your Members of Congress about Renewable Electricity Standard Legislation.
Posted on March 10th, 2009
The wind energy industry seeks a national standard of 25% renewable electricity by the year 2025. While 28 states already have RES policies, a national RES would unite the country with one goal and spread the benefits of renewable energy across the country.
A 25% renewable electricity by 2025 standard would, for the first time, provide a long-term commitment to renewable energy in the U.S., providing businesses with the certainty needed to invest in new wind energy manufacturing facilities, and to expand current ones - creating tens of thousands of new American jobs. This long-term policy would also put the U.S. on a path to achieving the significant carbon dioxide emission reductions desperately needed to protect the health of our planet.
AWEA is urging all members and visitors to contact your Members of Congress about Renewable Electricity Standard Legislation. Please click here to sign AWEA’s interactive form.
We need a Green Power Superhighway to move electricity from the rural areas where renewable energy is located to the populated areas where electricity is needed.
Posted on March 10th, 2009
AWEA Releases Green Power Superhighways
We need a Green Power Superhighway to move electricity from the rural areas where renewable energy is located to the populated areas where electricity is needed.
AWEA's latest publication, in partnership with the Solar Energy Industries Association, is Green Power Superhighways: Building a Path to America's Clean Energy Future. This white paper highlights the barriers that hinder investment in transmission infrastructure and identifies potential policy solutions.
The benefits – economic, environmental, energy security and reliability – far outweigh the costs.
WEW! encourages all members and visitors to download the report here.
AWEA and The We Campaign Have Teamed Up to Promote Our Growing Wind Economy
Posted on January 15th, 2009
Whether you manufacture wind turbine components, drive a truck hauling rotor blades, lease your land, or operate a crane erecting wind towers, AWEA wants to hear about your wind industry job. Together, AWEA and WE are looking for wind industry stories to use for websites, speeches, and advertising, and they want to know just how important these jobs are to you, your family and the American economy.
Please fill out the link below and tell AWEA and WE about your wind industry job and how this industry can work to build a new American energy economy.
http://www.wecansolveit.org/page/s/awea
AWEA and WEW! Work To Promote “Wind Energy For A New Era”
Posted on December 16th
The American Wind Energy Association conducted a webcast for Wind Energy Works! Members on December 12th. Presented by Susan Sloan and Greg Wetstone, the AWEA webcast detailed the wind industry’s near-term federal policy agenda for the next President and Congress. If you missed it or would like to review an AWEA webcast on this topic, a video recording a New Wind Agenda Webcast can be viewed here.
SmartPower Announces $10,000 Energy Smart Advertising Challenge
Posted on December 10th
SmartPower, the nations leading non-profit marketing organization dedicated to promoting clean energy and energy efficiency will be sponsoring a $10,000 :30 second video contest. The $10,000 contest is aimed at helping show Americans how to be smarter about their energy use.
If you are interested in participating, please visit the link here.
Chesapeake Climate Action Network Sponsors November 18th Capitol Hill Rally!
Posted on December 7th
On November 18th Chesapeake Climate Action Network sponsored a rally on Capitol Hill calling for President Elect Barack Obama to attend the December UN Climate Conference in Poland. Congressman Chris Van Hollen and Chesapeake Climate Action Network’s Mike Tidwell spoke on green job legislation and green manufacturing opportunities for next administration.
To hear an NPR excerpt from the rally, please visit the link here.
Renewable Energy Sales up 50% According To The Center For Resource Solutions
Posted on November 4th, 2008
Today, while the overall share of renewables in the U.S. is still small, the rate of growth is astounding - especially in the voluntary market which owes much to the strength to the Green-e program. In 2007, Green-e Certified renewable energy sales topped 15 million MWh, a 50% increase from 2006 and the largest volume of sales ever verified by the program, according to the Center For Resource Solutions Annual Report.
Check out what the Center for Resource Solutions has done to implement renewable energy policy and programs by reading their annual report.
The CRS 2007 Annual Report Can Be Viewed Here
PennEnvironment and Members of Congress Release Climate Report
Posted on November 4th, 2008
Philadelphia, PA - WEW Member PennEnvironment released a new report documenting that average temperatures in 2007 in cities across Pennsylvania were above the historical average. 2007 tied for the second warmest year on record globally and was the 10th warmest year on record in the United States, a clear trend of rising temperatures resulting from global warming.
PennEnvironment was joined by several area members of Congress in releasing the report. U.S. Representatives Bob Brady, Chaka Fattah, Patrick Murphy, Allyson Schwartz and Joe Sestak were applauded by PennEnvironment for signing onto a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi which outlined strong principles for action on energy and global warming. PennEnvironment is calling for those principles to be the blueprint for action for the next President and Congress.
Key findings for Pennsylvania cities include:
- In 2007, the average temperature was above normal in all seven of the Pennsylvania cities examined in the report. The average temperature in 2007 was 1.6°F above normal in Allentown, 0.3°F above normal in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 0.6°F above normal in Erie, 1.0°F above normal Harrisburg, 1.2°F above normal in Philadelphia, 1.4°F above normal in Pittsburgh, and 1.8°F above normal in Williamsport.
- These above-average temperatures in 2007 are part of longer warming trends. Between 2000 and 2007, the average temperature was 1.4°F above normal in Allentown, 0.2°F above normal in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 0.3°F above normal in Erie, 0.8°F above normal in Harrisburg, 1.1°F above normal in Philadelphia, 1.0°F above normal in Pittsburgh, and 1.4°F above normal in Williamsport. Nationally, the average temperature during this eight-year period was at least 0.5°F above normal at nearly 90 percent of the weather stations.
- In 2007, the average maximum temperature—the highest temperatures recorded on a given day—was above normal in all seven of the Pennsylvania cities examined in the report. The average maximum temperature was 1.6°F above normal in Allentown, 0.2°F above normal in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 0.1°F above normal in Erie, 0.7°F above normal in Harrisburg, 1.5°F above normal in Philadelphia, 1.2°F above normal in Pittsburgh, and 2.0°F above normal in Williamsport.
- While most of the Pennsylvania cities experienced a total number of days at or above 90°F that was only slightly above or below average in 2007, Pittsburgh experienced 15 days at or above 90°F (7 days above the average), and Williamsport experienced 26 days at or above 90°F (12 days above the average).
http://www.pennenvironment.org/
Indiana: The Case for a 10% Renewable Electric Standard
Posted on November 3rd, 2008
The Indiana Coalition for Renewable Energy and Economic Development has partnered with the Hoosier Environmental Council to promote the economic benefits of implementing a 10% RES in the state of Indiana.
Together, they developed a presentation that details state RES programs, macro economic gains associated with an RES, ensuing job growth, and the positive environmental impacts associated with an investment in wind and biomass electricity markets.
The ICREED Presentation Can Be Viewed Here www.indianacleanpower.org |
