WIND & STEEL IN ‘PARTNERSHIP FOR PROGRESS’

USW, AWEA Announce Plan to Make U.S.A. Leader in Wind Energy; Joint ‘Framework Agreement’ Reached to Create ‘Partnership for Progress’

"The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) and the United Steelworkers (USW)…released a joint ‘Framework Agreement’ to create a ‘Partnership for Progress’ in accelerating the development and deployment of wind energy production in the U.S…"

[Leo W. Gerard, International President, USW:] “The Framework Agreement we’re announcing is the beginning of a road map to help ensure that our nation makes real progress in developing alternative and renewable sources of energy production on a scale that is commensurate with its vast potential…[It will] advance the promise of green jobs being key to our future. The nation cannot continue to fall behind other countries on clean energy manufacturing…If we do not act quickly on this opportunity through federal leadership and industry commitment, we will have done a disservice to our citizens. The Framework Agreement is designed to create a Partnership for Progress that doesn’t accept second place…”

Add the wind industry to the Alliance (click to enlarge)

[Denise Bode, CEO, AWEA:] “Our partnership recognizes that, at this time of continuing economic uncertainty and while we are still in the early stages of development of the wind energy sector, support in terms of public policy initiatives is vital.”

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[U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH):] “We can’t replace our dependence on foreign oil with a dependence on Chinese-made wind turbines. It’s critical that American manufacturers have the resources to develop and deploy wind energy…We need to ensure American workers and manufacturers are building the clean energy components that will be used around the world.”

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[Leo W. Gerard, International President, USW:] “[The first of the four parts in the Framework Agreement] calls for an initial assessment of exactly where we are…Second, it calls for results-oriented targets…Third, to get us from here to there, it creates a partnership on a public policy agenda with the goal of enhancing the expansion of domestic supply chains and ensuring that we have the qualified and skilled workers…[I]t lastly calls for periodic assessments to ensure that the effort stays on track.”

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[Denise Bode, CEO, AWEA:] “Wind works for America. This framework represents the vast majority of the wind energy sector and [wind] is the first major player in the energy industry to clearly show its commitment to utilizing domestically located sources of supply. The American people expect and deserve to have their elected leaders support public policy initiatives that will ensure that all of our goals can be met…Our partnership will help achieve these goals.”

[Leo W. Gerard, International President, USW:] “The Steelworkers recognize that a stable and secure financial climate allowing AWEA members to plan for the future, while getting the capital to achieve those plans, is a necessary ingredient to expanded utilization of domestic supply chains…Short-term stimulus must be followed up by ensuring that we will be able to reclaim the American Dream…The Partnership for Progress we have created with this Framework Agreement between AWEA and the Steelworkers can serve as a model for other industries… that recognize the challenges facing our nation.”