US: Pledge of 50 percent zero-carbon electricity by 2025 possible by growing more low-cost, reliable wind energy

Within the next 10 years the U.S., Canada, and Mexico will collectively obtain half of their electricity from zero-carbon sources of electricity, including wind power. That’s according to a joint pledge to be announced by President Obama, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto tomorrow during the North American Leaders' Summit in Ottawa, Ontario.

American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) CEO Tom Kiernan made this statement in support of the newly announced target:  

“Getting half of North America’s electricity production from zero-emission clean energy by 2025 is possible thanks to low-cost, reliable wind energy. Wind energy has accounted for 77 percent of the growth in non-emitting generation in the U.S. over the last 10 years and these three countries already obtain nearly 40 percent of their electricity from zero-emission generation today. Thanks to wind power’s 66 percent cost decline over the last six years, homegrown wind energy is already on track to double by 2020 in the U.S. As the lowest-cost zero-emission energy source by a large margin, wind energy will be the workhorse to meet future carbon reduction targets, while saving consumers money.”