AWA launches statewide campaign showing benefits of wind

American Wind Action (AWA) launched a statewide campaign in Iowa to engage the public and encourage, as well as support efforts to protect its 9,000 local jobs and contribution to the local economy. AWA will air a series of TV, print, radio, and digital ads in a variety of Iowa media markets throughout the remainder of the year.

“As AWA’s new campaign demonstrates, wind energy is helping power a job creation boom in Iowa – providing well-paying job opportunities in a variety of careers and trades for its citizens, including for our nation’s veterans,” says Maureen Westphal, a spokesperson for AWA. “Through this campaign, AWA seeks to educate the public and connect those who stand to benefit most from wind energy, its citizens, with their members of Congress, who hold the wind community’s future in their hands.”

As part of its newest campaign, AWA will share with Iowans important information about wind energy and its benefits for the state, including its successful efforts to create well-paying U.S. jobs and support the economy:

• Wind energy has created 9,000 Iowa jobs and over 102,000 American jobs in all 50 states – more than in nuclear, coal, natural gas, or hydroelectric power;
• Wind energy jobs grew at a rate 9 times faster than the overall U.S. economy in last year;
• Wind energy employs 50% more veterans compared to other industries;
• The cost of wind energy has decreased by two-thirds in the last 7 years;
• Wind Turbine technicians and solar installers are America’s two fastest-growing job descriptions, 2016 to 2026.
• Since 2013, wind energy jobs have grown by 25% per year.

“AWA is pleased the U.S. Senate has acknowledged the many benefits of wind energy for the nation in its recent deliberations on tax reform,” adds Westphal. “Unfortunately, actions by the U.S. House have undercut wind energy and put over 102,000 jobs at risk – 9,000 in Iowa alone. As the debate continues at the federal level, AWA will continue fighting on behalf of workers, and they expect the Iowa congressional delegation to do the same. Together with the people of Iowa, we will work to ensure Washington, D.C. is doing its part to protect this powerful American energy source in Iowa and throughout the nation.”

Since its formation in 2016. AWA has launched multiple successful statewide education campaigns in states that are major wind resources and has fought against anti-wind initiatives.

To view the tv ad, click here.