Governors Call On EPA To Keep Wind Power In Mind For New Rules
Source: By NAW, North American Windpower • Posted: Friday, May 9, 2014
The Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition has released a letter to Gina McCarthy, administrator of the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), expressing the group’s support for wind energy as an eligiblemeasure for states to utilize to comply with upcoming carbon emission rules. The EPA is currentlyworking on standards under Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act to limit carbon emissions from existingpower plants.
“We urge the EPA to appropriately recognize wind energy and other renewable energy sources that canreduce carbon emissions,” the letter says. “Additionally, EPA should give states flexibility in meeting EPArequirements, expedite approval of state plans, reduce state and federal administrative burdens, andprovide credit for the clean energy investments that have already been made to improve our nation’senergy future.”
“We urge the EPA to appropriately recognize wind energy and other renewable energy sources that canreduce carbon emissions,” the letter says. “Additionally, EPA should give states flexibility in meeting EPArequirements, expedite approval of state plans, reduce state and federal administrative burdens, andprovide credit for the clean energy investments that have already been made to improve our nation’senergy future.”
“On behalf of the coalition, we respectfully urge you to support wind energy’s potential to further reducecarbon emissions while helping to maintain the reliability and affordability of the nation’s electricitysystem,” the letter continues.
Notably, American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) CEO Tom Kiernan recently said at theorganization’s WINDPOWER 2014 conference that the implementation of the Section 111(d) rules couldincrease demand for wind power, as well as help revive some state renewable portfolio standards.