ARLINGTON, VA. — Iowa Governor Chet Culver and Rhode Island Governor Donald L. Carcieri released a report, “Great Expectations: U.S. Wind Energy Development, the Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition’s 2010 Recommendations.” Culver and Carcieri are the chair and vice chair of the 29-state organization.

“These recommendations could not be more timely,” said Carcieri. “Congressional action on the energy bill seems to have stalled. It is our hope that these recommendations — and the national bipartisan consensus they represent — will advance the energy deliberations now under way in Congress.”

The recommendations call for the following actions by both Congress and the Administration:

• Adopt a renewable electricity standard.
• Develop new interstate electric transmission system infrastructure as needed to provide access to premier renewable energy resources both on-shore and offshore.
• Fully support coastal, deep water, and offshore wind energy technology and transmission research and development.
• Streamline permitting processes for both offshore and on-shore wind energy development projects.
• Expand the U.S. Department of Energy’s work with the states and the wind industry to accelerate innovation.
• Extend the Treasury Department grant program in lieu of the investment tax credit, and adopt a long-term renewable energy production tax credit with provisions to broaden the pool of eligible investors.

“Great Expectations: U.S. Wind Energy Development, Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition’s 2010 Wind Energy Recommendations” is available online at www.governorswindenergycoalition.org.