WASHINGTON, DC, USA, August 1, 2007.
The American Wind Energy Association has launched a major media campaign to encourage support for a national renewable electricity standard (RES). The ads will begin to air on Sunday, July 29 in key markets.
The U.S. House of Representatives is due to vote this week on the “pivotally important” amendment to require 20% of U.S. energy to be sourced from renewables by 2020. The amendment will be offered by Tom Udall (Democrat) and Todd Platts (Republican), and AWEA says the campaign targets eleven key members of the House.
“The ad campaign is part of our effort to focus attention on this crucial referendum on American energy policy,” explains Gregory Wetstone of AWEA. “We believe that greater public awareness will translate into more Congressional support for renewable energy sources like wind and solar power, which are overwhelmingly popular, but face well-financed opposition.”
The television ads started airing on July 29 in nine key media markets, expressly seeking support from the target members of Congress: Michelle Bachmann (R-Minneapolis, MN), Tom Davis (R-Washington, DC), Frank Wolf (R-Washington, DC), Tom Petri (R-Green Bay, WI), Chet Edwards (D-Waco, TX), Bradley Ellsworth (D-Terre Haute, IN), Bobby Etheridge (D-Raleigh-Durham, NC), Brad Miller (D-Raleigh-Durham, NC), Mary Bono (R-Palm Springs, CA), Tim Holden (D-Harrisburg, PA), and Fred Upton (R-Grand Rapids, MI).
More than 20 states have enacted renewable electricity standards, but a national RES is needed to fully reap the benefits of renewable energy, explains AWEA. Studies show that an RES would slow global warming by displacing the use of fossil fuels by 15% below business-as-usual levels (equivalent to taking 71 million cars off the road); reduce energy bills by lowering natural gas and electricity prices and saving $100 billion for U.S. consumers; creating 350,000 new jobs; revitalising rural America by providing farmers with annual royalties of $3,000 to $8,000 per turbine; and strengthening energy security by reducing the import of liquid natural gas from unstable regions such as Qatar, Russia and Iran.
“This vote is a landmark referendum on the direction of the nation's energy policy,” explains Wetstone. “It's not every day that Congress has an opportunity to reduce energy costs, promote our security, spur job creation, and reduce pollution.”
AWEA was formed in 1974 as the national trade association of the U.S. wind energy industry.
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