Federal Agency Support for Siting Wind Power Projects and Transmission Lines

The Interior Department has acted to prioritize renewable energy project development and Congress has acted to provide federal support for siting wind power projects:

Interior Secretary Salazar issued an executive order on March 11, 2009, to prioritize development of responsibly-sited renewable energy projects on federal lands.

The economic stimulus bill (The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009), signed into law by President Obama on February 17th, 2009, provides $315 million for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for various activities.  BLM has informed AWEA that it plans to spend at least $40 million of the funding to improve the siting of renewable energy projects on land they control.  Also, a portion of this money will be used to set up new renewable energy coordination offices.

The wind energy industry further recommends that the President directs the Department of Defense, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Department of Homeland Security to adopt a cooperative approach to resolving possible conflicts between wind projects and radar operations.  Each federal agency should be asked to plan how it will use its authority to facilitate the growth of wind power and other renewable energy sources.  For more information, please review the detailed policy recommendation.  The American Wind Energy Association has provided these further recommendations in testimony to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.