Wind
Power Display Signifies Vast Potential
Rockville—Clean
energy advocates converged on Rockville
today to show their support for proposals to increase the amount of electricity
that comes from renewable energy.
Standing before a crowd of elected officials, industry
representatives, and eco-conscious children, Rep. Chris Van Hollen announced
his support for legislation to promote renewable energy and sounded a hopeful
tone for the prospects of a strong clean energy bill this year.
“I hope the new political breeze on Capitol Hill will
produce a new energy policy that focuses on renewable energy sources like wind
and solar,” said Rep. Van Hollen. “We must have real action from Congress – not
a lot of hot air – if we are to stop global warming.”
Other Montgomery County
officials stated that if Congress isn’t ready to act on the issue, they are. Legislation
is being drafted to increase the renewable energy standard in Maryland.
Montgomery County
has purchased wind power in the past and plans to buy more in the future.
County officials touted their Clean Energy Awards program.
“Renewable energy is about cleaner air and water, green
jobs, and energy independence,” said Sen. Rob Garagiola. “Maryland
is beginning to make great strides with recent solar and wind legislation, but
much more needs to be done at the state and federal level to realize its full
potential.”
To symbolize the potential of renewable energy, the children
at the press conference held up pinwheels and the microphones were powered by
solar panels. A total of 88 pinwheels were displayed to represent the number of
wind turbines it would take to meet half of the power needs for all homes and
businesses in Rockville. A small
solar array was enough to work the sound system.
Environment Maryland and Chesapeake Climate Action Network
called on Congress to pass a bill introduced by Representatives Udall (D-NM)
and Platts (R-PA), H.R. 969, which would require 20 percent of America’s
electricity to come from renewable energy sources like wind and solar by 2020. Rep.
Van Hollen last week became a cosponsor of the legislation.
“We’ve been ignoring the potential of clean energy for far
to long,” said Environment Maryland State Director Brad Heavner. “Thanks to the
leadership of Rep. Van Hollen and others, we might soon turn the corner.”
“There is no better thing that Congress can do for America
right now than to put us on a new energy path,” said Mike Tidwell, executive
director of Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “People everywhere are crying
out for clean energy solutions.”
Other bills currently under consideration would increase the
federal miles-per-gallon standard and set a cap on global warming pollution.
Currently, Maryland
derives only one percent of its electricity from clean, renewable sources of
energy. Countries like Denmark
currently derive more than 20 percent of their overall electricity generation
from wind power alone.
One of the most proven policies to drive renewable energy
development, a Renewable Energy Standard, has been enacted in more than 20
states, including Maryland. These
policies require that utilities generate a certain percentage of their
electricity from renewable sources. Due to the economic and environmental
benefits these policies have delivered, ten states have strengthened or
expanded their standards.
An analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists found that a
standard of 20 percent by 2020 would create 355,000 jobs, save consumers $49
billion on their electric bills, and direct $16.2 billion to rural communities.
“Wind power and other renewables are growing fast, and these
industries need policy stability in order to expand on a large scale,” said Christine
Real de Azua, spokesperson for the American Wind Energy
Association. “If this bill passes, it will unleash billions in renewable energy
investment and put America
on a cleaner, stronger course.”
