Saint Paul, MN/ Sante Fe, NM -- Today, Governor Tim Pawlenty and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson 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 sent today inviting fellow governors to join the Governors Windpower Coalition, the two governors announced the Coalition’s objectives: 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.

“America is at a tipping point,” Governor Pawlenty said. “Our country is too dependent on imported sources of energy and greenhouse gas emissions continue to grow too quickly. Governors and states have a tremendous opportunity to lead the country toward a cleaner, more independent, more secure energy future.”

A U.S. Department of Energy report ranks Minnesota fourth in windpower capacity and fifth in retail wind sales.

“Windpower 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,” Governor Richardson said. “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.”

In 2006 the U.S. windpower market expanded dramatically with 2,454 megawatts of new capacity, which equates to about $3.7 billion invested in 2006. The American Wind Energy Association expects growth of 25 to 30 percent in windpower capacity in 2007 and through 2008.

This coalition is modeled after the successful Governors’ Ethanol Coalition, which now includes 30 member states. The Windpower Coalition will not receive funding from any industry sources.

Letter to Governors follows:

Dear Governor:

We invite you to join us in the creation of the Governors Windpower Coalition. Modeled after the successful Governors’ Ethanol Coalition, which now has more than 30 member states, the collaborative will provide a forum for decision makers to promote increased use of wind energy.

We envision that our collaborative will bring together states with abundant resources, states with large demand for clean energy, and states where wind technology will be developed and manufactured. We expect that member states will have in common:

• Objectives of economic development, resource diversity and environmental protection.
• Issues of transmission access, wind project siting, and electric system integration.
• Desire to design wise policies to encourage low-cost wind developments and a thriving wind industry.

To pursue these common objectives, the Coalition will: 

• Convene stakeholders and commission research addressing critical issues.
• Exchange information on wind technology and policy.
• Create and discuss opportunities for inter-state collaboration. 
• Explore consensus on recommendations for federal and regional policy.

We anticipate that topics for discussion and/or commissioned analysis will include, among others:

 • Policies to facilitate a domestic wind turbine manufacturing base.
 • Mechanisms for facilitating grid access in the near term.
 • State, regional, and federal rules that expand wind markets.
 • Advanced technology approaches for integrating large quantities of wind power into the grid, such as combining wind with other generation technologies, grid operation practices, and storage technologies.

To ensure independence, the Coalition should not receive funding from any industry sources, but should collaborate with industry to advance wind energy goals.

We hope you will join us in a discussion to refine plans for the organization. We will soon be convening interested state representatives to review ideas for the Coalition’s structure, charter and funding and organization, working toward consensus on priority topics for Coalition attention.

As we begin to plan for an initial meeting of Governor’s staff representatives, we ask that you contact our offices with feedback by December 19. Please respond to either Josh Gackle in Governor Pawlenty’s office or Sarah Cottrell in Governor Richardson’s office.

We hope you will be interested in appointing a representative of your office to meet on this important issue, and we welcome your comments on the Coalition concept.

Sincerely,

Tim Pawlenty                                                                     Bill Richardson
Governor, Minnesota                                                       Governor, New Mexico