Wind Power for Minnesota
American wind energy is powering the equivalent of nearly 13 million homes, avoiding as much carbon pollution as if 14 million cars were taken off the road, and supporting 75,000 American jobs. But the continued success of wind power is at risk if Congress does not act now.
Wind power: An American success story
With states like Minnesota leading the way, American wind energy is a true environmental and economic success story. Wind energy now powers the equivalent of nearly 13 million homes across the country, including 770,000 in Minnesota, reducing our dependence on coal and oil and creating a cleaner, healthier future for Americans.
Wind power already provides more than 10 percent of power generation in five states and 20 percent in South Dakota and Iowa, and supports 75,000 Americans jobs. Minnesota gets nearly 13 percent of its electricity from wind power, a growing industry that employs 2,000 to 3,000 people across the state. But the continued success of wind power is at risk if Congress does not act now.
At stake: Our clean energy future
At the end of this year, critical federal tax credits for wind power are set to expire. If Congress does not renew them, the wind industry expects they will lose 37,000 American jobs and we will lose hard-won momentum on clean energy.
Powerful polluting interests like the coal and oil industries are lobbying against these incentives. With their influence in Washington, D.C., they have worked to build opposition and political stalemate on clean energy advancements, putting our progress at risk.
But even though polluters have loud voices and deep pockets, there is no denying that wind power is a success nationwide—creating pollution-free energy, a cleaner and healthier future, and local jobs.
We need your support
Because of that success, clean energy has gained bipartisan political and public support that we can mobilize to convince Congress to act now. So Environment America is bringing citizens together to give our decision makers the support they need to make sure wind power tax credits are extended before the end of the year.
Join our campaign by sending a message to your members of Congress today.
Tell Congress: Extend the Wind Tax Credits!
Key Facts
- Each year, U.S. wind installations will save the nation more than 30 billion gallons of water that would otherwise be withdrawn for steam or cooling in conventional power plants.
- We’ve doubled American wind capacity in just the past 4 years. In 2011, wind power represented 32 percent of all new energy capacity added in the United States.
- With member support, we worked hard to win essential clean energy incentives. We can’t let Big Oil and Big Coal block America’s progress toward a clean energy future.