Whats Happening in Washington Related to the Wind Agenda

1
Whats Happening in Washington Related to the
Wind Agenda?

• Randall Swisher
• Executive Director
• American Wind Energy Association

2
Intro U.S. Wind Industry Status

• 11,603 MW installed capacity at end of 2006
• Three record years of growth 2005-07
• 2006 27 growth or 2,454 MW
• Wind 2nd leading source of new generation
• 2005 2006 - U.S. largest market for new wind
  turbines in the world

3
Four Trends in the Market

• Market Scaling Up
• Sustained Growth
• Strong Investment, Larger Players
• Global Market/Supply Chain Growth
• Less Eurocentric
• More Robust Long-term Vision

4
A Few Bumps in the Road . . .

• Global Turbine Shortage
• Cost Increases
• Turbines and components
• Construction, transportation
• Compensating Reality all energy is more
  expensive today

5
Policy Matters!

• Inconsistent federal policy has been the single
  biggest constraint on growth of the U.S. wind
  industry
• Most manufacturers European and beneficiaries of
  more stable policy

6
What is the Federal Wind Agenda?

• Tax Issues
• long-term PTC extension
• H.R. 197 (Pomeroy 5 year)
• small turbine ITC

7
What is the Wind Agenda?

• Federal Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)
• Bingaman calling for 15 by 2020
• RPS one relatively simple and quick response to
  climate concerns
• State RPS in 22 states a big driver

8
What is the Wind Agenda?

• Transmission
• Most significant long-term constraint for wind
• Making cost recovery more certain
• Providing a federal backstop on siting
• Need Renewable Energy Superhighways to access
  enormous wind, solar geothermal resources
• FERC ensuring electric market rules work for
  new technologies

9
AWEA Proposal for National Interest Transmission
Corridors
New transmission lines could bring over 15,000 MW
of new wind online
10
What is the Wind Agenda?

• Maximizing Winds Cost Competitiveness
• Enhanced DOE RD

11
What is the Wind Agenda?

• Action on Global Warming
• Wind one of seven wedges able to make serious
  contribution
• If wind 20 of U.S. power generation would
  avoid over 15 of expected power generation CO2
  emissions in 2030.
• Output-based allocation of allowances ensures
  value of renewable generation recognized
• Stabilizing the climate requires transforming the
  electric industry no business as usual

12
The New Congress

• Renewables have bipartisan support
• The new Congress has a different agenda
  renewable energy is a priority
• Wind and renewables will receive greater
  attention

13
Contact AWEA

• www.AWEA.org
• RSwisher_at_awea.org
• Or write to
• American Wind Energy Association
• 1101 14th Street NW, 12th Floor
• Washington, DC 20005