According to AP reporter Frederic J. Frommer, as Senate sponsors of a climate bill prepare to unveil their legislation, a coalition of governors from 29 states wants the federal government to take steps to boost wind energy. The bipartisan Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition made their recommendations in a report to Congress and the White House.

Senator Barbara Boxer and John Kerry introducing a Climate Bill in the Senate
When John Kerry introduced the climate bill last September that he co-authored with Barbara Boxer, he heralded action to stop global warming as “one of the most important battles we will ever face, as legislators and as citizens.”

The report, titled “Great Expectations,” noted that some states have renewable energy standards but others don’t. “These standards vary considerably from state to state, complicating compliance by the electric-power and renewable-energy industries,” the report said.

“We offer our assistance in working with Congress and the administration to achieve one of the nation’s principal energy goals, energy independence, and increasing the role that wind energy plays in meeting that challenge,” wrote the coalition’s chairman, Iowa Democratic Gov. Chet Culver, and its vice chairman, GOP Gov. Donald Carcieri of Rhode Island, in a letter to congressional leaders. A nearly identical letter was sent to President Barack Obama.

Besides implementation of a Renewable Energy Standard, other recommendations by the group include:

  • Developing new infrastructure for electricity transmission to provide access to renewable energy resources.
  • Funding technology to develop wind energy in “wind-rich” coastal areas.
  • Streamlining the permitting process for wind energy projects.
  • Extending an economic stimulus grant program for wind projects, and providing a long-term extension of a wind energy production tax credit.

“The governors said that although the House began to address increasing wind power’s role in climate legislation it passed last year, they are anxious to see the Senate follow through.” In a weblog post titled, “The Disappearing Climate Bill,” MoJo Green Report Kate Sheppard echoed that concern, noting “a rhetorical shift” by Senator Kerry.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Kerry suggested that his pollution-cutting plans are only an afterthought. “It’s primarily a jobs bill, and an energy independence bill and a pollution reduction-health-clean air bill,” said Kerry. “Climate sort of follows. It’s on for the ride.”

If Emperor Fossil has his way, this will be a lot of folderol amounting to greater subsidization of coal and nuclear and allowance of off-shore oil drilling and not wind turbines. Still, it would be nice to witness a valiant effort to discourage the dirtiest fuels and plants.

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