The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) will send a delegation to the 15th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP15), currently underway in Copenhagen, Denmark. AWEA CEO Denise Bode, COO Britt Theismann, Sr. VP of Public Policy Rob Gramlich, and VP of Public Affairs Sarah Howell will be among the representatives attending.   

“The wind industry is here in Copenhagen to bring the good news to decision-makers that aggressive emissions reductions are feasible and cost-effective with the right policies, including rapid deployment of wind power,” said AWEA CEO Denise Bode. “Wind is ready today to drive the transition to a vibrant, clean energy economy, both in the U.S. and worldwide.

“We plan to stoke the renewable energy policy competition that is already heating up between nations.  Thirty-seven countries already have firm, long-term renewable energy policy commitments in place—but not the U.S. We point to the striking success of the renewable energy provisions of the Recovery Act in creating jobs and avoiding carbon, and call on the U.S. government to do much more, including the provision of a strong national Renewable Electricity Standard in upcoming legislation.”
 
AWEA’s participation at the conference is another indication of America’s reengagement in the international climate change process and of the key role that wind power plays today in the transition to a clean energy economy. AWEA has over 2,500 members, including global energy companies and a broad range of supply chain, component manufacturing, and service businesses.

According to AWEA, 2009 will be the second-largest year ever in U.S. wind power investment, and American wind farms this year are already avoiding over 2% of carbon emissions from the electric sector.  Looking ahead, a technical report by The U.S. Department of Energy found that wind could provide 20% of U.S. electricity by 2030—a share as large as that of nuclear power today.  At an investment of less than a bottle of Coke a month for the average ratepayer, that level of wind power could cut 25% of U.S. power sector emissions and single-handedly hold flat emissions from that sector, while supporting over 500,000 jobs. The report also established that given wind power’s vast potential and technological maturity, that level is not a ceiling. 

Globally, an aggressive wind scenario could provide 30%-40% of global emissions reductions needed by 2020 to put us on a path toward a target of 450 parts per million CO2 (450ppm), according to data from the Global Wind Energy Council and the International Energy Agency.  Wind power can contribute to even more aggressive targets, while also creating jobs, revitalizing economies and strengthening energy security. 

AWEA has outlined the following goals for COP15:

• To support actions taken by Congress and the Obama Administration, especially the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s role in creating jobs, deploying renewable energy, and reducing emissions.
• To convey the need for a national Renewable Electricity Standard, which must be a component of any comprehensive U.S. legislation.
• To convey the large-scale emissions reductions that wind power can provide, especially as wind power is the sole zero-emissions electricity generation source that can be deployed today in a large-scale, cost-effective way.
• To ensure that the global wind industry reinforces positive renewable energy policy competition between nations.