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January 5, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Larry Pearce 402-651-2948
David Terry 703-395-1076
Ben Hammes 515-281-5211 (Branstad)
Ashley O’Shea 401-222-8060 (Raimondo)
Coalition Welcomes Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo as the Coalition’s New Leadership Team
The Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition today welcomed Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo as the new chair and vice chair of the Coalition for the 2016 term.
“I look forward to working with Governor Raimondo and our Coalition colleagues to help the wind energy industry diversify our nation’s energy portfolio and drive economic development in our states,” said Governor Branstad. “We will continue to share best practices across the states and work with Federal leaders to deliver stability and predictability in supportive Federal policies.
Iowa remains a wind energy leader. In 2014, 28.5% of the energy produced in Iowa came from wind and Iowa’s wind energy leadership stems from supportive policies dating back to 1983, Governor Branstad’s first year in office.
“As the governor of the first state in the nation to develop offshore wind resources, I look forward to working with other governors to expand offshore wind, and to collaborating with states in other parts of the nation to open new markets for wind power. Wind power expansion will create jobs, diversify our energy sources, and ensure long-term energy affordability,” Governor Raimondo said.
Rhode Island has positioned itself as a leader in offshore renewable energy. The Block Island Wind Farm is opening new markets for private sector job creation and cleaner power, and illustrates the innovative approach Rhode Island has taken to lower energy costs and diversify energy supplies.
Over a decade ago, many of the nation’s coastal governors supported the policies that created the today’s robust land-based wind industry. Although the Coalition’s efforts have always included both on shore and offshore wind energy, there remains tremendous opportunity to advance offshore wind opportunities from a national policy perspective. The Coalition looks forward to meeting in Rhode Island next year and seeing first-hand the amazing economic opportunity created by the Ocean State.
Governor Branstad and Governor Raimondo both thanked Washington Governor Jay Inslee for his leadership of the Coalition and for his national advocacy for renewable energy.
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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. For more information, visit www.GovernorsWindEnergyCoalition.org
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.