“This is a timely and valuable report.  As climate change, jobs and energy security rise to the top of the national agenda, we have authoritative confirmation that wind power can make a significant contribution to all these problems.  It will take leadership to follow the roadmap, but the vision presented is good news not just for the wind industry but for the nation.”
Dr. James A. Walker
Vice Chairman of Board, enXco Inc.
President, American Wind Energy Association (June 2008-June 2009)

We at Xcel Energy applaud the DOE, NREL, and AWEA’s combined efforts and complex analytics in developing the 20% Wind Vision Report.  As the nation’s number one retail provider of wind energy, we agree that reliable integration of large amounts of wind power, especially in areas with concentrations above the 20% level, will require geographic dispersion, larger balancing areas, improved bulk transmission system transfer capability and improved forecasting and grid control technologies to effectively control for the variability in wind generation output.  We would add to the integration discussion the need for responsive gas and hydro generation and new energy storage technologies.  We look forward to working with AWEA, our fellow utilities, and technology vendors to meet these challenges as the U.S. advances along an aggressive renewable energy path.
Paul Bonavia, President, Utilities Group, Xcel Energy Inc.

 “A clean energy future is within our grasp – as long as we harness America’s wind energy potential,” said Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).  “This report shows us the pathway to achieve this goal and solve the climate crisis.  We need the right policies now to level the energy playing field and allow us to take the next steps on the course to achieving 20 percent wind power.”
Frances Beinecke, President, Natural Resources Defense Council

The reality of global warming requires fast and wise development of our national wind resources.  This report offers a vision of America’s clean energy future and a roadmap of the steps we need to get there.  Reaching at least 20 percent wind by 2030 is not an option, it’s an imperative.
Carl Pope, Executive Director, Sierra Club

This well-researched report outlines a challenging vision to expand the use of wind energy in the United States to meet electric consumers’ needs, which will have the benefit of eliminating climate harmful carbon emissions, while reducing future coal, natural gas and water consumption.  Acting on the recommendations in the report will enable utilities to meet and even expand their RPS goals.
Jan Schori, General Manager, Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)

“Wind power is critical for Austin Energy, the City of Austin’s electric utility, to meet the City’s renewable energy goal of 30 percent by 2020. By the end of 2008, wind power will provide 11 % of the energy sold by Austin Energy.

The 20 % Wind Vision report is valuable because it addresses many of the issues inherent with integrating increasing amounts of wind into our portfolio. At Austin Energy, we have seen increasing market demand for wind power and Texas has responded by implementing the needed electric industry changes in market design and transmission infrastructure – and that is what has made Texas such a success story for wind power. The 20% Wind Vision report discusses challenges including adequate transmission lines, grid reliability, increased public scrutiny of wind farm siting and other obstacles this maturing industry faces.

The report also presents a realistic scenario on how wind power can meet the significant demand the American public has for clean, inexhaustible renewable energy. It outlines how other regions in the U.S. can learn from the successes in Texas to enable wind power to play an increasing role in meeting our growing energy appetite while reducing air emissions."
Roger Duncan, General Manger, Austin Energy, City of Austin

"A 20% vision whereby the U.S. gets 20% of its electricity generation from wind energy by 2030 is right on target.  America needs to realize this vision as a vehicle for making the country more energy independent, as a means of mitigating environmental and health issues related to carbon and other emissions from fossil fuel thermal plants and as a major driver for building and expanding our industrial infrastructure and creating approximately the equivalent of 2,750,000 new job years.  The 20% Vision for wind energy can achieve all of this and reinvigorate rural America through new income streams related to construction and deployment of wind farms.  Our rural educational system is a critical tie in as well with the NREL-DOE Wind for Schools program helping lay the groundwork for the next generation of electrical engineer and other careers needed to serve a vibrant and growing wind energy industry.  Wind energy is a superstar that will glow ever brighter."
Dan McGuire, Chief Executive, American Corn Growers Foundation.

This ground breaking report shows that wind power can be a major contributor to a low-carbon U.S. energy economy, avoiding the need for scores of coal-fired power plants while creating a half million jobs.  I hope these findings will spur federal and state legislators to make the policy changes needed to tap the nation’s vast wind energy resources.”
Christopher Flavin, President, Worldwatch Institute

The DOE report reflects a basic principle long advocated by 25x’25: meeting our nation’s growing demand for energy will require a wide array of resources, including renewable sources like wind energy. We believe America’s farms, ranches and forestlands can meet 25 percent of our national energy needs by 2025 and still provide an ample, safe and affordable supply of food, feed and fiber. Vast tracts of agricultural land across our country provide good wind resources and can serve as wind turbine sites that will help meet this ambitious goal. Wind energy, along with solar power, geothermal energy, hydropower, biomass and biofuels, is a key component to a new energy future. Increasing the percentage of our energy that comes from renewable sources is a distinctly better course for national security, the environment and our economy.
J. Read Smith, co-chair, the National 25x’25 Steering Committee

"As one of the largest energy utilities in the US, National Grid is committed to playing a leading role in meeting the challenge of global climate change. In order to meet this challenge, it is vital that the US energy industry tap into the large potential of renewable resources that exist in the country. One of the key challenges to fully utilizing this resource is the development of transmission to deliver clean energy to customers. We continue to advocate that proactive planning and ensuring stable cost recovery and a broad allocation of costs are essential to ensuring that this challenge can be met."
Mark Lissimore, Vice President, Transmission Regulation and Commercial, National Grid

“This report is an important analytical contribution to achieving the goal of increased use of renewable resources. It clearly demonstrates the necessity for coordination in planning, regulatory, technical and policy decisions as the nation’s electricity industry transitions to cleaner sources of energy. The U.S. Department of Energy, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and others who provided information for this report should be highly commended for their leadership in this area.”  
Yakout Mansour, President and Chief Executive Officer, California Independent System Operator

This report…provides the most comprehensive picture to date of what 20% of our nation’s electric energy from wind might look like. 
Charlie Smith, Executive Director, Utility Wind Integration Group

“We need a more balanced energy portfolio in this country, for national security reasons, for environmental and economic development reasons.  This landmark report shows that if we set our minds to it we can make tremendous headway in improving our energy mix.”
Michael Skelly, Co-founder, Horizon Wind Energy / Texas Congressional Candidate

“With over 5GW installed in the U.S. in 2007, wind is becoming a mainstream power source.   Through two years of dedicated effort of the wind vision task force we have become convinced that wind can and should provide 20% of our nation’s electricity by 2030. “ 
Steven C. Lockard, Co-Chair AWEA R&D Committee and President & CEO, TPI Composites 

"New wind power development is sweeping across the nation’s Heartland spawning a rural economic renaissance while producing non-polluting electricity.  Wind power should be a key part of the solutions to our global warming pollution problems.  Today’s report shows how significantly wind power can contribute to our cleaner energy future.".
Howard A. Learner, Executive Director, Environmental Law & Policy Center

“Renewable energy offers America a desperately needed and unique ‘win-win’ opportunity.  At a time when we must revive our manufacturing capacity, reduce our consumption of natural resources, especially foreign oil, stabilize the cost and reliability of our energy supply, and dramatically cut our greenhouse gas emissions, we have the chance to produce energy—using wind and other renewable sources—in ways that will boost the economy while improving the environment.  Manufacturing energy in this way will energize American manufacturing and deliver sustainable energy into American homes, factories, and commercial centers.”
Fred P. Keller, Chairman and CEO, Cascade Engineering

"The goal of getting 20% of our nation’s electrical generation from wind energy by 2030 is not only an achievable goal, it is in our national strategic economic interests to do so.  Wind energy will reduce carbon emissions, water usage, and our nation’s dependence on foreign oil.  Wind energy will improve our air quality and bring billions of dollars of new rural economic development to rural America.  If Congress can send a clear solid, long term message by extending the production tax credits for wind energy development, we can also build a massive new wind energy based manufacturing base right in the heart of America.  Wind energy is a win-win solution for our environment and our economy."
John K. Hansen, President, Nebraska Farmers Union

"Mortenson is proud to participate in the 20% Wind Energy by 2030 report and we applaud the collaborative effort put forth by our peers, partners and other key stakeholders."
Jerry Grundtner, Vice President, Project Development, Mortenson Construction