Wind power pushes Congress to tackle grid issue

HOUSTON (Reuters) – The push to boost U.S. electric generation from wind and other renewable energy sources is forcing U.S. lawmakers to address the contentious issue of whether states or the federal government should have final authority to site new power lines, industry officials said on Friday.

Denise Bode, head of the American Wind Energy Association, said national oversight of transmission development is critical to exploit the country’s abundant wind energy resources.

Thousands of miles of new high-voltage lines will be needed to move electric generation from the windiest regions in the center of the country to power-hungry cities.

“We need a national transmission policy,” Bode said at the Gulf Coast Power Association conference on Friday.

She expressed optimism the issue can be resolved with legislation in the current Congress which is looking at economic and other measures to encourage renewable power to lessen U.S. dependence on foreign oil and to create jobs.

Reuters