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Salina, KS – As a member of the Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition,
Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius is joining governors from 22 other
states in calling on President Obama and Congress to enact a federal
Renewable Energy Standard (RES). The RES would require utilities to
provide 20 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
The newly formed Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition released a report
and policy recommendations at a recent Washington press conference.
Other recommendations include support for transmission development,
investment in wind technologies, and a long-term production tax credit
for renewables.
“CEP applauds the Governor - a federal RES would transform our Kansas economy,” said Nancy Jackson, executive director of the Climate and Energy Project (CEP) of the Land Institute.
“The U.S. Department of Energy projects Kansas will provide at least
7,000 MW of wind energy in a 20% scenario. That means $20 million in
direct payments to Kansas landowners, another $20 million in payments
to counties, and more than 1,800 long-term jobs after 11,000
construction jobs across the western portion of our state.”
Emil Ramirez of the United Steelworkers, member of the Kansas Blue Green Alliance,
said, “A federal RPS puts Kansans back to work. Every wind turbine
requires hundreds of yards of concrete, miles of steel re-bar, copper
wire and electrical connections, and skilled labor to install it all.
That’s not to mention the 8,000 parts in a turbine, all of which could
be manufactured in Kansas if we work to become a central hub for the
industry.”
Wind energy provides a critical hedge against volatile fossil fuel
prices in a global market, keeping electric rates down over the
long-term. As plug-in electric hybrid vehicles become widely available
over the next five years, Kansans will be able to drive on wind power,
decreasing our dependence on foreign oil and increasing our energy
security.
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To download the Governors’ letter to President Obama, go to http://www.governorswindenergycoalition.org/assets/files/GWC_Obama_letter_021909_1.pdf
The Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition
is a bipartisan group of the nation’s governors dedicated to the
development of the nation’s wind energy resources to meet America’s
domestic energy demands in an environmentally responsible manner—while
reducing the nation’s dependence on imported energy sources and
stimulating state and national economic development. The Coalition
undertakes initiatives designed to encourage sound policy and
legislation for the development and distribution of wind-generated
energy; to communicate and demonstrate the value and benefits of wind
energy to consumers, energy companies and policy makers; to create an
environment of support for those who wish to develop responsible wind
energy resources; and to make investments in infrastructure to support
expansion of wind energy across the United States. |
