WIND BACKS SHIFT TO CLEAN

Wind Industry Works To Shape The Clean Energy Standard Debate
Chris Madison, 15 February 2011 (North American Windpower)

"Facing a flurry of activity that began with President Obama's endorsement of the idea in last month's State of the Union address, the wind industry is scrambling to respond to proposals for a clean energy standard (CES).

"There is no formal legislative proposal yet, and significant skepticism among conservatives, especially in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, means that enactment into law is no sure thing. Perhaps most important of all, there is no guarantee that a CES would help the slumping wind industry."

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"Nevertheless, the pressure is on: The CES has emerged as the only blip on the policy horizon in the aftermath of the wind industry's failure last year to secure the enactment of a renewable electricity standard (RES)…The day after Obama endorsed a CES in the State of the Union, AWEA noted its delight and concerns…[and] skepticism."

[Britt Theismann, senior vice president/chief operating officer, AWEA:]"Policymakers recognize that we need a more diverse electricity portfolio…While natural gas provides many benefits, utilities are becoming overly reliant on that one source of new generation, so a clean and/or renewable electricity standard requiring other sources would provide valuable diversity. AWEA supports legislation that will deploy renewables and drive demand for clean, abundant and homegrown wind energy."

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"…The CES first emerged in 2010 as an alternative to the RES. By including natural gas and nuclear energy as ‘clean’ fuel sources for utilities, it was meant to be a more palatable path to dealing with climate change and over-reliance on foreign energy. For the wind industry and most other proponents of renewables, it was a non-starter because it seemed unlikely to increase the U.S. market for renewables, which was the purpose of an RES…But that political dynamic was upended when no RES passed in 2010 and when President Obama signaled his support for a CES in his 2011 State of the Union address…

"…[Though] Republicans in the House remain a formidable obstacle…the Center for American Progress is participating in the legislative process, proposing a set of key principles that should guide Congress in crafting a CES. Chief among them is that the CES should include ‘a specific and separate target to ensure the growth of our cleanest electricity resources, including energy efficiency, and wind, solar, geothermal and other truly renewable electricity sources.’ The center proposed a 35% ‘carve out’ within the Obama administration's goal of 80% clean energy by 2035…"