Wind Energy Study Released

Washington, DC – The US Department of the Interior released a study Tuesday examining the impacts of wind energy development across 11 western states, including Wyoming. Environmental, economic, and social impacts were all considered. At a press conference releasing the study, Assistant Interior Secretary Rebecca Watson said it will further wind energy permitting and paves the way for 3,200 megawatts of wind energy to be produced by 2025, enough power for one million homes. 11% of that is expected to be produced in Wyoming. Watson also took the opportunity to talk about how serious the Bush Administration is about renewable resources, and wind in particular. In the past four and a half years, Watson says the BLM has issued 74 permits for wind energy projects, while the Clinton Administration only issued 13 in eight years. Watson says there is considerable interest among international companies in starting wind energy projects in the US.