Wind power support spans the country, the political divide
by Fresh Energyby Elena Velkov, media relations coordinator, Fresh Energy
On December 7, Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty and New Mexico governor Bill Richardson announced the Governors Windpower Coalition, issuing a letter of invitation to the rest of the nation’s governors. Their objectives: to discuss interstate collaboration, exchange information on wind technology and policy, commission research on critical wind policy issues, and seek recommendations on federal and regional policy.
The coalition supports the often-asserted suggestion that energy issues are not partisan. Pawlenty, a Republican, signed the historic 25-by-25 renewable electricity bill this year. Richardson, a Democrat, signed a comparable 15-by-15 and 20-by-20 renewable electricity bill in 2007 as well.
The coalition has a practical agenda. The American Wind Energy Association expects wind power capacity in the U.S. to increase as much as 30 percent in 2008, according to the Pioneer Press. This new technology will help create jobs and increase energy independence. That’s nonpartisan.
The Pioneer Press article quoted Pawlenty: “Governors and states have a tremendous opportunity to lead the country toward a cleaner, more independent, more secure energy future.” Who will be the first to seize this nonpartisan opportunity?
