About two dozen folks involved AWEA’s Community Wind Working Group gathered in Washington this week to start developing a policy agenda that will allow for broader investment in wind development and also bring them into closer contact with other elements of the industry.
In the past, there have been some tensions between advocates for locally owned wind farms and larger wind developers who lease land from local landowners. On the theory that a broad-based industry can increase the political power of the wind industry, industry leaders and community wind advocates are looking at ways to deepen their ties.
For the Community Wind group, this week’s Washington retreat helped bring focus to the policy issues on their agenda and also offered a chance to discuss strategy. AWEA Board President Jim Walker attended the CWWG meeting.
The AWEA Board of Directors established the Community Wind Working Group last year, proclaiming that All sizes and models of development are important if the US wind industry is to grow to at least 20% of our nation’s electricity portfolio.” |
