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)