#AmericanWindWeek: Wind powers opportunity in rural America
#AmericanWindWeek has officially kicked off! Today we’re celebrating the many ways wind powers opportunity in rural America.
Today’s schedule
Our main event for today is at the Iowa State Fair, where candidates for the 2020 Democratic nomination for President will be signing a real wind turbine blade. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, who proclaimed this week #AmericanWeekWeek in his home state, was one of the candidates who signed the blade, alongside AWEA CEO Tom Kiernan.
Wind powers opportunity in rural America
Wind powering opportunity across rural America is our Day 1 #AmericanWindWeek theme. In fact, over 99 percent of wind projects are built in rural America. Rural areas have seen some of the biggest benefits wind brings because wind projects pay over $1 billion in state and local taxes and landowner lease payments every year. That’s crucial new income that helps rural communities invest in schools, fix roads and fund emergency services. Many of the country’s 114,000 wind jobs are located in rural America as well, which provides young people with rewarding careers without having to leave home– wind is diversifying rural America’s economy.
States like Texas and Iowa have seen huge increases in local revenue from wind projects.
Across the country, rural communities are now thriving because of wind projects.
Weekend #AmericanWindWeek highlights
#AmericanWindWeek is officially underway. Check out some highlights from this weekend, in particular from the Iowa State Fair, where some notable faces are signing a full-size wind turbine blade. Make sure to check back in for more updates all week long!
This #AmericanWindWeek, we’re celebrating our partnership with @EnelGreenPower and over 114,000 workers that are making wind power a US success story. As a result, more than 50% of our purchased electricity comes from wind power. #ThisBudsForYou #PurposeBeyondBrewing pic.twitter.com/Q9SbXpRPSJ
— Anheuser-Busch (@AnheuserBusch) August 11, 2019
.@BilldeBlasio thanks for coming by tonight and giving #windpower a thumbs up! Wind is the number one source of renewable energy in Iowa! #AmericanWindWeek @AWEA pic.twitter.com/GDuoiZwLsL
— Power Up Iowa (@PowerUpIowa) August 12, 2019
Following his soapbox speech at the @IowaStateFair, @MichaelBennet came by to support #windpower! One of the great stats discussed from our blade: wind pays over $20 million in annual lease payments to Iowa farmers, providing a steady source of income. #AmericanWindWeek pic.twitter.com/hp6x5pnZMn
— Power Up Iowa (@PowerUpIowa) August 11, 2019
Thanks to @GovBillWeld for stopping by the blade today to talk about how #windpower benefits the economy! #AmericanWindWeek @AWEA pic.twitter.com/HX3uPXA2wC
— Power Up Iowa (@PowerUpIowa) August 11, 2019
Washington Governor @JayInslee met with @TomCKiernan and @JeffDanielson at our wind blade today. Thanks for your dedicated support of #windpower! #AmericanWindWeek @IowaStateFair @AWEA pic.twitter.com/pyARCqX3Dt
— Power Up Iowa (@PowerUpIowa) August 10, 2019
Thanks for your support yesterday and every day, @ChuckGrassley! #Windpower @AWEA @IowaStateFair https://t.co/PUJt8OArus
— Power Up Iowa (@PowerUpIowa) August 10, 2019
Happy #AmericanWindWeek! We started celebrating early at @CarbonCounty Fair’s Energy Day; we discussed new jobs, hundred$ of million$ in property/sales/gen taxes, and other benefits to flow to Wyoming thanks to 3000MW CCSM Wind Project. Heard tons of support! #WindWorksForWyoming pic.twitter.com/hobrDzH2sf
— Power Co of Wyoming (@welovewind) August 12, 2019