Governors seek wind energy boost

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A coalition representing governors of 29 states is urging the federal government to take steps to boost wind energy, such as a renewable electricity standard requiring utilities to produce at least 10 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2012.

The bipartisan Governors' Wind Energy Coalition plans to make the recommendations in a report to Congress and the White House. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the report ahead of its official release.

The report comes as Senate sponsors of a climate bill prepare to unveil their legislation.

"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.

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.

White House spokesman Ben LaBolt said in an e-mail that Obama "is fully committed to supporting policies that promote the production of wind energy" and supports steps like a renewable electricity standard.

But he added: "The president believes that the most effective way to grow this sector is to establish incentives to drive private investment in clean energy by setting a price on carbon pollution, and he will continue to work with members of Congress and governors to pass comprehensive energy and climate legislation that achieves those goals."

Drew Hammill, a spokesman for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said that the House bill "includes many key provisions, including a renewable energy standard, that would boost renewable energy sources and create thousands of new jobs in this sector. The speaker looks forward to the Senate moving forward on comprehensive energy and climate legislation, so that a bill can be sent to the president this year."

The office of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., declined to comment.

The report, titled "Great Expectations," noted that some states have renewable electricity 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.

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.