Wind Energy Works! Alliance

The Wind Energy Works! alliance is continuing to add new members. Formed 1-1/2 years ago, it now includes 85 organizations that exemplify the benefits that more wind power can mean for America's economy and society:

Ports: The Duluth (Minn.) Seaway Port Authority. Because U.S. government policies to encourage wind power have been inconsistent, many wind turbine components are imported rather than being manufactured. On the bright side, this means big business for ports, from Duluth to Galveston, Tex.

Agriculture: American Agri-Women, the American Corn Growers Association, Women Involved in Farm Economics (WIFE), the Nebraska Farmers Union, the Texas Farm Bureau, the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Cooperative and more. Wind farms revitalize the economy of rural communities by providing steady income to farmers and other landowners. Each wind turbine contributes $2,000 to $4,000 or more in farm income, while 95-98% of the farm’s land remains free for crops or grazing.

Economic Development: The Columbia Gorge (Ore.) Economic Development Association, the Amarillo (Tex.) Chamber of Commerce and more. In addition to payments to farmers, wind farms support the local tax base, helping to pay for schools, roads and hospitals.

Clean Air: HealthLink, the American Lung Association of the Central States and more. Wind power is 100% clean, releasing none of the sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates or mercury created when electricity is generated from fossil fuels.

Environment: Natural Resources Defense Council, Greenpeace, the Union of Concerned Scientists and more: Wind power requires no mining or drilling for fuel, causes no air, water or global warming pollution, creates no hazardous waste, and requires no water to generate electricity. Its benefits to the environment, compared with other electricity sources, are overwhelming.

Faith: The Regeneration Project/Interfaith Power & Light, Texas Impact. As the religious community becomes more concerned about the need for environmental stewardship, clean energy is an obvious place to start.

These groups and many more have become part of the clean power movement through membership in Wind Energy Works!. If you know of a group that you feel should be affiliated with Wind Energy Works!, please let us know by posting a comment here or writing to windmail@awea.org.