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Wind Powering America is a commitment to dramatically increase the use of wind energy in the United States. The overall goal of Wind Powering America is to support the establishment of new sources of income for American farmers, Native Americans, and other rural landowners and meet the growing demand for clean sources of electricity.
Wind Powering America is focusing on bringing the option of wind development to "Communities of Color." Wind power development can lead to economic and environmental benefits, including:
- Annual payments to landowners from land leases for wind projects
- On-site use of wind power to cut power bills
- Ownership in new generation projects
- Alleviating environmental impacts of conventional power generation on minority communities
- Creating new markets and partners for the growing U.S. renewable industry
By working with state and local officials, colleges and universities, farming and rural sector associations, churches, and economic and energy advocates, Wind Powering America will support focused efforts to:
- Examine wind resources as a new crop for harvesting for farmers and landowners
- Explore use of wind generated power for farming and rural applications, such as dairy operations and irrigation of crops
- Examine new ownership models of wind power generation through development of rural and urban electric cooperatives in Communities of Color
- Explore the uses of public and private sector diversity procurement guidelines to expand market for wind power generated and owned by Communities of Color
For more information, read Phil Dougherty's, Wind Powering America's National Coordinator, speech (PDF 47 KB) Download Adobe Reader and presentation (PDF 517 KB) Download Adobe Reader delivered at the Communities of Color Outreach/Black Farmer's Association Meeting in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, September 2001.
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