AWEA statement on the DOE grid study

“We received the U.S. Department of Energy’s grid study and reviewed its key findings and recommendations. The wind industry appreciated the opportunity to contribute analysis to DOE during this process, and we look forward to completing our review and continuing to work with DOE and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

We agree with DOE that it makes sense to determine how a portfolio of domestic energy resources can ensure grid reliability and resilience. Wind energy contributes to the grid services that incumbent baseload also provides, and will continue to be a growing part of a reliable, resilient U.S. electric grid.

DOE’s comprehensive report provides a number of valuable policy recommendations. In particular, DOE’s recommendations to value essential reliability services, which wind provides; to minimize regulatory barriers to energy production; and to accelerate infrastructure and transmission development are prudent and will help continue America’s wind power success story. In addition to generating low-cost, clean, reliable electricity, the U.S. wind industry is expected to support 147,000 jobs by 2020, including 33,000 jobs at over 500 U.S. factories.”

– Tom Kiernan, CEO of the American Wind Energy Association