Governors— Wind Energy Coalition releases 2010 recommendations

ARLINGTON, VA. — Iowa Governor Chet Culver and Rhode Island Governor Donald L. Carcieri released a report, “Great Expectations: U.S. Wind Energy Development, the Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition’s 2010 Recommendations.” Culver and Carcieri are the chair and vice chair of the 29-state organization.

“These recommendations could not be more timely,” said Carcieri. “Congressional action on the energy bill seems to have stalled. It is our hope that these recommendations — and the national bipartisan consensus they represent — will advance the energy deliberations now under way in Congress.”

The recommendations call for the following actions by both Congress and the Administration:

•Adopt a renewable electricity standard.
•Develop new interstate electric transmission system infrastructure as needed to provide access to premier renewable energy resources both on-shore and offshore.
•Fully support coastal, deep water, and offshore wind energy technology and transmission research and development.
•Streamline permitting processes for both offshore and on-shore wind energy development projects.
•Expand the U.S. Department of Energy’s work with the states and the wind industry to accelerate innovation.
•Extend the Treasury Department grant program in lieu of the investment tax credit, and adopt a long-term renewable energy production tax credit with provisions to broaden the pool of eligible investors.

“Great Expectations: U.S. Wind Energy Development, Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition’s 2010 Wind Energy Recommendations” is available online at www.governorswindenergycoalition.org.