Wind Group Applauds New York Commitment to Renewable Energy

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For Immediate Release

Wind Group Applauds New York Commitment to Renewable Energy

Wind Generation Will Benefit from Pataki Move

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WASHINGTON, Jun. 13 -/E-Wire/-- The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) today praised New York Governor George Pataki (R) for his recent decision to require state agencies to buy substantial amounts of renewable energy to meet their electric power needs.

On Monday, Gov. Pataki issued an Executive Order requiring all agencies of New York State, including the New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority, to purchase 10% of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2005 and 20% by 2010. AWEA said the announcement will create the first stable, long-term markets for retail sales of wind energy in New York State, as well as boost solar photovoltaics and biomass energy sources.

Said AWEA Executive Director Randall Swisher, "Wind energy is ready, today, to supply substantial amounts of electricity in the Empire State. The first New York wind projects are in place and operating well, and there is enough windy land for many moreenough to power nearly 2 million homes. Nationally, we believe that wind energy can provide 6% of U.S. electricity requirements by 2020. Gov. Pataki's announcement, the largest state renewable energy procurement commitment in U.S. history, should give wind power a tremendous boost."

Added Bruce Bailey of AWS Scientific, an Albany-based wind meteorological firm, "We hope other states, as well as the federal government, will follow New York's lead. Because renewable energy reduces use of fossil fuels, state and federal renewable energy purchases help stabilize energy costs and reduce air pollution."

State agencies and authorities in New York require approximately 630 megawatts (MW) of electric power. David Wooley, Director of AWEA's Northeast State Policy Project, said Pataki's initiative "is expected to result in approximately 165 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year of renewable energy sales to state agencies by 2005 and 330 million kWh by 2010. The 2010 purchase requirementenough to serve about 40,000 homes--is the equivalent of the annual production from about 130 MW of installed wind energy capacity. We are very happy with the announcement and expect that wind will supply at least three-quarters of the renewable electricity purchases for state agencies."

Along with his Executive Order, Gov.Pataki also established a task force of industry leaders, state officials and environmentalists to help implement the Executive Order and find other ways to reduce emissions in New York to combat global warming. Wooley was named as a member of the task force. Implementation of the Executive Order is to be coordinated by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

According to Peter Mandelstam of Arcadia Windpower, Inc., a New York City-based wind financing firm, the Executive Order helps overcome an important barrier to wind energy development in New York. Explained Mandelstam, "Private financing for wind energy projects often requires a secure, predictable stream of revenues from electric power sales. So far, green energy markets have not emerged in New York, leaving developers without a stable market for green electric power sales. The Governor's Executive Order should result in long-term contracts for wind energy sales, making substantial renewable energy development possible in the state while a market for green electricity develops."

Mandelstam and Bailey are co-chairs of Wind Power New York, a state-level initiative of AWEA that is directed by Wooley. Wind Power New York is campaigning for a series of legislative and policy goals, including:

- A "renewables portfolio standard" (RPS) that would require a certain minimum percentage of all electricity sold in the state to come from renewable energy sources, with the percentage increasing over time; and

- A tax credit to lower the cost of a small wind turbine intended for household or small business use.

American Wind Energy Association

http:// www.awea.org

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