From indri!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!csd4.csd.uwm.edu!bionet!agate!shelby!labrea!cdp!tgray Wed Sep  6 5 PDT 1989


Subject: --AWEA Asks Boost in Wind $

/* Written  7:04 pm  Sep  2, 1989 by tgray in cdp:awea.windnews */
/* ---------- "--AWEA Asks Boost in Wind $" ---------- */
AWEA CALLS ON BUSH TO BOOST WIND FUNDING -- The American Wind Energy
Association (AWEA) called 8/11 on President Bush and the U.S. De-
partment of Energy (DOE) to increase research and development fund-
ing for wind energy to $16.7 million next year, up from $9.35 mil-
lion in the current year.

In a letter to Bush, the trade association cited a report recently
issued by the Congressional Research Service, which states that R&D
funding for all renewable energy technologies has fallen by 88%
since 1981, and adds, "If this steady decline in...funding contin-
ues, the program will end in 2 to 4 years."

Earl Kelly, Director of Government Affairs for AWEA, said, "We think
the budget proposed by AWEA for wind energy R&D for FY 1991 is very
reasonable.  Although it would be a substantial increase from this
year's funding level, it is still less than the federal government
was spending on wind just three years ago."

"Cleaning up our environment and designing an effective National
Energy Strategy will take action as well as talk," Kelly said, "and
the wind energy R&D budget is a good place to start."

AWEA's letter to President Bush, written by Kelly, outlines AWEA's
three primary goals, which are:

"o    To have affordable electricity generated in an environmen-
      tally sound manner;

"o    To have the United States become as energy independent as
      possible; and

"o    To have America participate in the very large and quickly
      growing world market for wind-powered turbines."

Accomplishing these goals, Kelly said, depends in large part on the
Department of Energy receiving an adequate wind energy R&D budget.

For a copy of the letter, contact Kelly in the AWEA Washington
office.

                               * * *


(From Wind Energy Weekly #365, 8/13/89.  Published by the American Wind
Energy Association on EcoNet, the global electronic network for the
environmental community.  For more information on the Association,
contact AWEA, 1730 North Lynn #610, Arlington, VA 22209, USA, phone
703-276-8334, fax 703-527-2833, telex 6503304640 MCI UW.  For more
information on EcoNet, contact Institute for Global Communications, 3228
Sacramento Street, San Francisco, CA 94115, phone 415-923-0900.)