Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition welcomes Iowa’s Branstad, Oregon’s Kitzhaber as new leadership team

“I look forward to working with Governor Kitzhaber and our Coalition colleagues to help the wind power industry diversify our nation’s energy portfolio,” said Governor Branstad. “We look forward to working with Congress to extend the wind tax credits so the wind energy industry can continue to produce rewarding careers throughout the nation. We will also support efforts to modernize our nation’s electric transmission system which is vital to economic development in Iowa, Oregon and through out the nation. Transmission development is as critical to economic growth in our states as the interstate highway system or our freight rail system. Grid modernization will allow for further wind development and modernize this vital infrastructure so we have the reliability and long-term efficiency to compete in a global economy.”

“Oregon is reaping the benefits of robust wind energy investment,” said Governor Kitzhaber. “We’re tapping a home-grown, renewable energy resource that is strengthening Oregon’s economy with new family-wage jobs in our rural communities, a growing tax base for schools and public services and an expanding supply chain of local businesses. I look forward to joining Governor Branstad and other governors across the country to help meet the nation’s 20 percent wind energy goal.”

“I know that Governor Kitzhaber will provide outstanding leadership to the Coalition at this crucial time," added Gov. Branstad. "The nation can remain a global leader in wind energy development by adopting practical national policies that remove barriers to the nation’s wind energy industry. Twenty percent of Iowa’s electricity now comes from wind energy so I have seen first-hand what wind energy development has done for Iowa, and know its benefits can be shared by many other states in the Coalition.

“We wish to thank Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee for his leadership of the Coalition last year. Governor Chafee laid a strong foundation for the work the Coalition will undertake this year.”

The Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition is a bipartisan group of the nation’s governors who are dedicated to the development of the nation’s wind energy resources to meet America’s domestic energy demands in an environmentally responsible manner — while reducing the nation’s dependence on imported energy sources and stimulating state and national economic development.

Through its multi-state coordinated efforts, the Coalition is engaged in several national initiatives to:

– Encourage sound national policy and legislation for the development and distribution of wind-generated energy;
– Communicate and demonstrate the value and benefits of wind energy to consumers, energy companies and policy makers;
– Share state best practices in wind power and renewable energy policy development;
– Create an environment of support for those who wish to develop responsible wind energy resources; and
– Support development of infrastructure for the expansion of wind energy across the United States.

www.GovernorsWindEnergyCoalition.org