Report: wind energy could reduce pollution by 36 fossil fuel plants

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Environment Texas

AUSTIN – The carbon pollution from 36 coal and gas fired power plants could be eliminated in Texas if wind power continues its recent growth trajectory, according to a new analysis by Environment Texas. The analysis comes just as Congress considers whether to renew tax credits critical to wind development.

“Wind power can replace the dirty energy sources of the past and the pollution that comes with them,” said Luke Metzger, Director of Environment Texas. “But we need to act now to ensure a clean energy future.”

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 projects in west and coastal Texas already produced enough energy in 2013 to power 3.3 million homes. The analysis predicts wind projects will be developed off the Texas coast in the next 15 years. While offshore wind development is likely more modest growth, those projects could still produce enough power for 100,000 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.

America has the potential to power itself 10 times over with wind that blows both over land and off our coasts.  Offshore wind development, which is in its very nascent stages in the U.S., is critical to achieving the 30 percent target, the report said.

“Speeding the development of pollution-free wind energy will slow global warming,” said Metzger. “That’s why our leaders should invest now in healthy air and a healthy planet.”

Environment Texas Research & Policy Center is statewide advocacy organization bringing people together for a cleaner, greener, healthier future.

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