Governors' Wind Energy Coalition

The leading trade groups representing the wind and solar industries are drawing up recommendations for state policymakers who will be responsible for complying with U.S. EPA’s landmark rules to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector.

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) and Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) plan to submit their recommendations in the spring, ahead of the EPA rules’ expected finalization this summer, AWEA President Tom Kiernan said today.

“We do see wind and solar and other renewables as, I would say, a central part for … most states to comply with the Clean Power Plan in a cost-effective way,” Kiernan said.

SEIA spokesman Ken Johnson said recent history has shown solar can aid states’ efforts to reduce their carbon footprint and cited policies like the federal investment tax credit and state-level moves toward net metering as well as renewable energy standards with helping that process along.

“Simply put, we believe solar can be a real game changer for states looking to meet new requirements under the Clean Power Plan — and we’re looking at creative ways to assist them,” Johnson said in an email.

Kiernan spoke this morning at a briefing to release the latest sustainable energy factbook from Bloomberg New Energy Finance, an analysis firm, and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, a coalition of renewable, natural gas and efficiency companies and trade associations. Clean energy proponents touted positive trends from this year’s publication, such as its finding that there was $51.8 billion invested in U.S. clean energy projects last year, a 7 percent increase from the previous year and the second-highest level in the world behind China.