National Coalition Formed to
Promote Wind Energy, Address Disinformation
The American Wind Energy
Association (AWEA) has announced the formation of a national coalition of
wind-energy advocates that is intended to be the largest pro-wind energy
development organization of its kind in the United States. According to AWEA,
Wind Energy Works! will actively and aggressively engage in the public
conversation over the merits of wind energy, educate the public about the
benefits of wind-energy development, and act as a counterbalance to the
misinformation spread by wind-energy opponents in communities across the
country.
"Wind energy works because it is one of the cleanest, most environmentally
friendly energy sources in the world, helps reduce our country's dependence on
foreign sources of energy, creates jobs and supports local economies," said
Randall Swisher, Executive Director of the American Wind Energy Association.
"But despite all of these benefits, there is an ongoing effort by wind-energy
opponents to mislead the public and hinder or block further wind-energy
development across the country. This new coalition will make the positive case
for continued wind energy development and engage the public with the facts."
Initial coalition members include Earth Policy Institute, the Chesapeake Climate
Action Network, the Izaak Walton League of America, Union of Concerned
Scientists, the American Corn Growers Association, the American Corn Growers
Foundation, Prowers County Development, and The Regeneration Project/Interfaith
Power and Light, AWEA, Renewable Energy Long Island, Western Resource Advocates,
the Renewable Northwest Project, Wind Power New York, Citizens for
Pennsylvania's Future, the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Technologies (CEERT), The Wind Coalition, Green Energy Ohio, Wind on the Wires,
the Interwest Energy Alliance, Clean Energy Partnership, Renew Wisconsin, West
Wind Wires, Minnesotans for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ME3), and the Southern
Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE).
Although the establishment of the coalition was spurred by AWEA, the coalition's
vision is to become a broad-based alliance of independent voices providing a
platform for organizations from the environmental, agricultural, business,
health, social justice, faith and academic communities to promote the need for
continued wind-energy development.
(Source: AWEA news release, 7/6/05)