Powerful Wind Energy Support at Odds with Sen. Alexander
A new poll in Tennessee indicates that residents support increased use of wind energy bya 12-to-1 margin, contrary to efforts by U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) against windenergy. Sen. Alexander has been a frequent critic of the development of wind energy inthe United States.
“This poll clearly indicates the people of Tennessee support wind energy and they see itas a viable way to help the state access energy and reduce pollution,” said Karl Eiermann,Plant Manager for the Buffalo Mountain Wind Energy Center located near OliverSprings, Tennessee. “The residents of Tennessee are saying ‘yes’ to more wind power.”
As of May 2007, the Buffalo Mountain Wind Energy Center had produced 30 months ofpollution-free electricity for Tennessee. This electricity, 133 million kilowatt hours,would have otherwise emitted approximately 50 million pounds of carbon if produced bya typical fossil fueled power plant in Tennessee. Carbon emissions from the combustionof fossil fuels are suspected of being the leading contributor to global warming. TheBuffalo Mountain Wind Energy Center is owned and operated by Invenergy Wind LLC.
The random poll of 1,047 likely registered voters by Telephone Strategies Group on June5 and 6 found:
12 times as many residents support wind energy as those who oppose it,with 74.5 % of residents supporting the increased use of wind power inTennessee (6.2% oppose with 19.3% undecided)
78.7% of respondents are aware that Tennessee ranks near the bottom ofstates that produce wind energy
Among those with an opinion, 82.2% believe wind energy is a viablesource of pollution-free electricity in Tennessee
The TSG poll results, which have a 3% margin or error, indicate that Sen. Alexander’s positions and actions on wind energy issues run in direct contradiction to the strong views of constituents who support expanded use of wind energy technology in Tennessee.
Telephone Strategies Group is a Midwest-based company with extensive experience withpolitical campaigns, trade associations and corporations. Jaimey Sexton, president ofTSG, founded the company in 1998 in Raleigh, NC.
About Invenergy Wind LLC
Invenergy Wind LLC is an affiliate of Invenergy LLC, a developer, owner and operatorof utility-scale electricity generating facilities including wind energy and natural gas-firedprojects. Over the past three years, Invenergy Wind has completed development andconstruction of a number of wind energy facilities, including projects in the United Statesand Europe.
Wind energy projects completed and under construction by Invenergy Wind in NorthAmerica and Europe are expected to generate more than three billion kilowatt hours ofelectricity per year with clean and renewable generation technology.
Invenergy is headquartered in Chicago and has North American offices in Denver,Washington D.C., Toronto, Milwaukee, Tampa, and Austin, Texas. Overseas offices arelocated in London (UK), Warsaw (Poland) and Athens (Greece).