Oregon wind energy could reduce pollution by equivalent of nine coal plants

Environment Oregon

Portland, OR– The equivalent of the carbon pollution from nine coal plants could be eliminated in Oregon if wind power continues its recent growth trajectory, according to a new analysis by Environment Oregon. The analysis comes just as Congress considers whether to renew tax credits critical to wind development.

“Investing in renewable energy creates jobs while reducing harmful carbon emissions and contributing to the health of our planet,” said Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR). “In Oregon, a number of wind farms already generate electricity, and there is tremendous potential for wind energy nationwide. The Production Tax Credit will move the country closer to energy independence and will help to maintain Oregon’s position as a leader in this field. We must ultimately work on a long-term Production Tax Credit to help ensure continued growth, stability, and innovation in the renewable energy industry.”

Continued, rapid development of wind energy would allow the renewable resource to supply 30 percent of the nation’s electricity by 2030, providing more than enough carbon reductions to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Clean Power Plan.

“Wind power can replace the dirty energy sources of the past and the pollution that comes with them,” said Charlie Fisher, advocate with Environment Oregon. “But Congress needs to act now to ensure a clean energy future.”

Wind power projects across the state already produced enough energy in 2013 to power more than 685,000 homes. 

The report, More Wind, Less Warming, comes days after the comment period closed for the Clean Power Plan, which Congressional leaders are trying to block. The analysis also comes as lawmakers jockey over the fate of wind energy tax credits in the nation’s spending plan, due to be adopted next week.

Underscoring the amount of room for growth, America has the potential to power itself 10 times over with wind that blows both over land and off the East Coast.

“Wind power is an essential component of Oregon’s energy mix that is poised to provide Oregonians with clean, abundant, low-cost electricity for decades to come,” said Amelia Reiver-Schlusser, staff attorney for the Green Energy Institute at Lewis and Clark Law School. “We should therefore support and implement EPA’s Clean Power Plan and reinstate federal tax credits to further increase wind development in the state.”

The report can be found online here: http://environmentoregon.org/sites/environment/files/reports/ORE%20MoreW…