Distributed Wind Industry has the potential to create 150,000 jobs and generate 30 GW of energy by 2030
New white paper from Distributed Wind Energy Association (DWEA) lays road map for growth of “behind the meter” distributed wind in America.
WASHINGTON DC – On the eve of their annual Business Conference and Lobby day, the Distributed Wind Energy Association (DWEA) released the Distributed Wind Vision, which highlights the vast potential of the distributed wind sector. This new white paper outlines the strategies to reach 30 GW of “behind-the-meter” wind generation by 2030. The document showcases what a true American small business success story this industry is, with over 90% of the small and medium systems installed in America in 2014 manufactured here. These American-made turbines have to potential to provide electricity to homes, farms, businesses, and public facilities across all 50 states.
To achieve 30 GW of Distributed Wind by 2030 DWEA recommends the following policies:
- Remove the 100 kW cap on the small wind Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and provide a long-term extension of the ITC
- Enact a 40% ITC for residential wind systems up to 20 kW as part of the ITC extension
- Increase the U.S. Department of Energy budget overall and for Distributed Wind RD&D to at least 15% of the DOE wind budget as part of a new focused DOE initiative on distributed wind
- Maintain funding for the USDA REAP program through and beyond the current farm bill
- Encourage states and utilities to provide incentives for distributed wind on par with the solar incentives they have successfully employed to grow their solar markets.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of this new Vision, distributed wind is a true homegrown industry that is generating clean, affordable electricity, while keeping Americans at work,” said Jennifer Jenkins, Executive Director of the Distributed Wind Energy Association. “The U.S. distributed wind energy supply chain is made up of hundreds of manufacturing facilities and vendors spread across the country — supporting jobs in manufacturing, retail, construction and maintenance. This is a critical time for our industry, but with the right policies in place at the state and federal levels, we have to potential to be the next clean tech boom.”
Smart policies that grow the market and advance the technology of distributed wind also provide important benefits in addition to the 150,000 jobs created, including: economic development serving primarily rural areas, additional clean energy choices for Americans, strengthening the grid, promoting resilience and more.
Members of the media are invited to attend the Business Conference and Distributed Wind 101 sessions and can RSVP to lglickman[at]distributedwind.org for more information.
View the full agenda here.
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About the Distributed Wind Energy Association
The Distributed Wind Energy Association is a collaborative group comprised of manufacturers, distributors, project developers, dealers, installers, and advocates, whose primary mission is to promote and foster all aspects of the American distributed wind energy industry. Distributed wind is the use of wind turbines at homes, farm and ranches, businesses, public and industrial facilities, off-grid and other sites connected either physically or virtually on the customer side of the meter to offset all or a portion of local energy consumption or to support grid operations. DWEA seeks to represent members and associates from all sectors with relevant interests pertaining to the distributed wind industry. For more information on DWEA, please go to www.distributedwind.org. Follow us on Twitter @DWEA and like us on Facebook.