Report: wind energy, tax credits needed to combat global warming

Environment Ohio

Akron, OH — Six million metric tons of carbon pollution could be eliminated in Ohio if wind power continues its recent growth trajectory, according to a new analysis by Environment Ohio. The analysis comes just as Congress considers whether to renew tax credits critical to wind development.

“Wind power can replace the dirty energy sources of the past and the pollution that comes with them,” said Nate Lotze, campaign organizer with Environment Ohio. “But Congress needs to act now to ensure a clean energy future.”

Continued, rapid development of wind energy would allow the renewable resource to supply 30 percent of the nation’s electricity by 2030, providing more than enough carbon reductions to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Clean Power Plan.

Wind power projects like the Blue Creek Wind Farm in Van Wert and AMP Wind Farm in Wood County already produced enough energy in 2013 to power over 100,000 homes.

“Clean energy is working to grow the economy while also protecting the environment. It has grown leaps and bounds because of common sense policies like the Production Tax Credit for wind energy and the Advanced Energy Project Credit. Congress ought to renew these important investments,” said Lee Geisse, Ohio Regional Program Manager for the BlueGreen Alliance.

The report, More Wind, Less Warming, comes days after the comment period closed for the EPA Clean Power Plan, which Congressional leaders are trying to block. The analysis also comes as lawmakers jockey over the fate of wind energy tax credits in the nation’s spending plan, due to be adopted next week. In Ohio, a rollback of existing renewable energy mandates with SB 310 means a tougher road ahead for the renewable energy sector.

America has the potential to power itself 10 times over with wind that blows both over land and off our coastlines. Offshore wind development, which could happen in Lake Erie, is critical to achieving the 30 percent target, the report said.

“Speeding the development of pollution-free wind energy will slow global warming,” said Lotze. “That’s why our leaders should invest now in healthy air and a healthy planet.”

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