Govs. Tim Pawlenty, R-Minn., and Bill Richardson, D-N.M., have announced the formation of the Governors Windpower Coalition as a means of promoting the increased use of wind energy in America.
In a bipartisan letter inviting fellow governors to join the group, the two governors announced the coalition's objectives, which are to discuss interstate collaboration, exchange information on wind technology and policy, commission research on critical wind policy issues and seek recommendations on federal and regional policy.
According to the letter, the group is modeled after the Governors' Ethanol Coalition, which has more than 30 member states. The group intends to convene stakeholders and commission research addressing critical issues, exchange information on wind technology and policy and explore consensus on recommendation for federal and regional policy.
‘Wind power holds tremendous potential for clean renewable energy for our country, and leading states – like New Mexico and Minnesota – are now harnessing that power in order to meet their renewable portfolio standard commitments,’ says Richardson. ‘As the highest per capita wind energy user in the nation, New Mexico is fully invested in wind power. This coalition has the potential to bring together states with abundant wind resources with states with a large demand for renewable energy, and with states where wind technology is developed – to create a powerful lobby on behalf of clean energy.’
