US: Wind power ready to propel Washington D.C. forward to 50% renewable energy by 2032

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) issued a statement in support of the increase:

“Washington, D.C.’s City Council sent a strong signal today in favor of clean energy, clean air and cost savings for residents of the nation’s capital by supporting Councilmember Mary Cheh’s proposal to expand the District’s renewable energy standard,” said Tom Kiernan, CEO of AWEA. “With approval from Mayor Bowser, the District of Columbia can have a higher standard for renewable energy than many states and the city’s consumers will reap the benefits of using more low-cost wind power.”

The District of Columbia’s new RES will require half of the city’s electricity to come from renewable energy sources like wind and solar, which puts the new standard ahead of many state laws to expand renewable energy. If the RES is approved by Mayor Muriel Bowser, D.C. will stand alongside a leading group of states including California, Hawaii, Oregon and Vermont who have recently passed similar extensions of renewable energy standards to 50 percent or beyond.

The vote expands on clean energy leadership by the District of Columbia city government, which last year became one of the first major American cities to purchase wind energy directly. The District government signed a long-term power purchase agreement in 2015 to buy the entire output of Iberdrola Renewables’ South Chestnut 46-megawatt wind farm in southwestern Pennsylvania, enough to supply 35 percent of city building electricity needs. This agreement is projected to save District taxpayers $45 million over 20 years.

Wind power’s costs have fallen by two-thirds in the last 6 years, which has helped make wind energy the largest source of new electricity generation capacity in 2015.