WIND ENERGY ASKS PUBLIC TO PUSH CONGRESS ON BILL

Wind Energy Association Launches Media Campaign As Crucial Vote On Renewable Energy Looms
Christine Real de Azua, December 3, 2007 (American Wind Energy Association)

WHO
American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), Gregory Wetstone, Director of Government and Public Affairs;

click to enlarge

WHAT
- AWEA has launched a media barrage, including a TV spot, to get the public to tell its representatives in Washington, D.C., they want New Energy. Specifically, AWEA is backing Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) in her quest to keep the Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) in the legislation that gets through the House and Senate and is sent to President Bush.
- See the TV spot at POWER OF WIND

WHEN
- The media campaign and TV ads launch December 3.
- The House RES calls for US utilities to obtain 15% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020.

WHERE
- The energy bill is expected to be decided in the House of Representatives this week and the Senate very soon.
- The AWEA ads will run nationally with heavier play in D.C. and 4 states in which legislators’ votes may determine the outcome of the floor fights: Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas and Nebraska.
- Tell your legislators what you want at POWER OF WIND

WHY
- Recent polls (of likely voters) show Americans in both parties (77% of Republicans, 92% of Democrats ) overwhelmingly support a national RES. 86% of Southerners and 77% of conservatives also support it.
- An RES would lower electricity and natural gas bills more than $100 million.
- An RES would create hundreds of thousands of new jobs.
- An RES would bring new revenue streams to rural America through lease payments for turbine placements, solar installation placements and waste-to-biomass production.
- An RES would move America toward energy independence.

Public policies make all the difference. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Wetstone, AWEA: “The ad campaign is part of a broader effort to focus attention on this crucial referendum on American energy policy…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.”
- Wetstone, AWEA: “These votes in the House and Senate together are a landmark referendum on the direction of the nation’s energy policy…It’s not every day that Congress has an opportunity to reduce energy costs, promote our security, spur job creation, and reduce pollution.”