The AWEA said that it is ready to work with President-elect Donald Trump and his administration to assure that wind power continues to be a vibrant part of the US economy. It noted that there is an unstoppable shift to a cleaner energy economy underway, and the fundamentals of wind energy in America are strong. Bipartisan support for long-term policy is firmly in place and a near-record number of wind farms are under construction, saving consumers money by connecting low-cost wind power to more parts of the country.
An unstoppable shift to a cleaner energy economy is underway, AWEA said, and the fundamentals of wind energy in America are strong. With bipartisan support for long-term policy firmly in place, and a near-record number of wind farms are under construction, the US wind industry is saving consumers money by connecting low-cost wind power to more parts of the country.
“Our determination to fulfil on the US wind industry’s enormous potential has never been stronger” said Tom Kiernan, AWEA CEO. “We’re putting money in the pockets of farmers who host wind turbines, keeping the farm in the family and the family on the farm. And wind power supports 88,000 well-paying American jobs, a quarter of them made-in-the-USA manufacturing jobs. States, where most energy policy is made, are likely to continue their clean energy policies.”
The American trade association also took heart from a previous statement by Trump in which he stated that the US can “pursue all forms of energy”, including renewable energies and the technologies of the future. On that basis, AWEA said it is looking forward to working with Trump and his appointees to make sure they recognise that wind is working very well in America today as a mainstream energy source.
In response to Trump’s promise to rebuild American infrastructure and putting millions of people to work, AWEA commented that wind power is some of the best infrastructure America has ever built and that the country is on track to doubling it from today’s levels by 2020. Indeed, wind has proven to be an economic powerhouse for rural America, as well as helping American citizens to breathe easier while contributing to US energy independence. AWEA said its job is to make good on that promise.
Wind can bring prosperity to more communities across America that are hurting right now, that need the business that wind energy can bring. Currently, over 80 percent of all farms are located in Republican-held congressional districts. AWEA expects that Republican leaders in Congress and the White House will want to keep the industry growing rather than seeing it fail. It is especially encouraging to see more utilities and corporations flocking to buy more wind, finding it to be the biggest, fastest, cheapest way to keep the air clean while keeping electric rates low. AWEA said it will continue to work with the states to lower electricity costs and share the benefits of rural economic development while meeting their renewable standards.
According to exit polls, the top issues on Americans’ minds as they went to vote were the economy, security, and health. Wind can help with all three.
Image: Theodore Scott/AWEA
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