Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle today joined a group of wind industry leaders urging Congress to pass renewable energy legislation this summer. «Provisions to advance renewable energy and efficiency policies have historically enjoyed bipartisan support and can drive successful passage of energy legislation by Congress this summer,” said Senator Daschle.
Daschle, who represented wind-rich South Dakota in Congress, appeared at a wind energy press conference with AWEA CEO Denise Bode and several wind company executives. He is providing strategic advice to AWEA as it gears up to persuade Congress to pass a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) this year.
At the press conference, AWEA released a letter to President Barack Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid supporting efforts to pass energy legislation this summer, and recommending that it contain an RES, tax incentives, energy efficiency standards and provisions aimed to ease the way for needed renewable energy infrastructure.
“We agree that it is critical that energy legislation be taken up in the Senate upon its return on July 12,” the letter said. It was signed by members of a new clean energy coalition that includes representatives of solar, hydro, biomass and energy efficiency groups.
“Our industry is at a crossroads with thousands of manufacturing jobs in the balance and with businesses and investors watching to see if the U.S. passes legislation supporting renewable energy,” said AWEA CEO Denise Bode. Joining her and Daschle at the press briefing were Steve Dayney, CEO of REPower, a global wind turbine manufacturer; Steve Lockard, President and CEO of TPI Composites, Inc.; and Susan Nickey, CFO of Acciona North America.