Aberdeen, SD-U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) brought together a cross-section of local leaders to find ways to help South Dakota reach its full wind energy output potential. Johnson highlighted bipartisan legislation he cosponsored in September to establish a national renewable electricity standard, which would help South Dakota expand its renewable energy production.
“South Dakota ranks fourth in wind energy potential, and we are moving in the right direction but we still have work to do to reach our full capabilities,” Johnson said. “I commend the efforts by Presentation Sisters to utilize renewable energy and hope other South Dakota organizations will make similar improvements.”
Today’s event was held at Presentation Sisters, which recently installed an 80-foot wind turbine on one of its buildings. Combined with solar panels already on the roof, the turbine is expected to offset up to 15 percent of the building’s energy needs.
As a member of the Senate Energy Committee, Johnson has continually pushed for investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency to put South Dakota at the forefront of a clean energy economy. In September, Johnson was an original cosponsor of the Renewable Electricity Promotion Act. The legislation requires that electric utilities obtain 15 percent of their electricity supply from renewable sources by 2021. Eligible energy sources for producing electricity include wind, solar, new hydropower, biomass and municipal solid waste. The legislation builds on the renewable energy standard portion of the American Clean Energy Leadership Act, which Johnson helped craft and the Energy Committee passed last year.
“I strongly support enacting a nationwide Renewable Electricity Standard to ensure that more of our power comes from sources like wind and solar within the next decade. This policy is long overdue and I am committed to working with all of my colleagues to make sure this common-sense measure is passed or included in energy bills that are considered in the future,” Johnson continued.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provided a boost to South Dakota’s wind energy production at a time when private investments were limited due to the economic downturn. The stimulus package, which Johnson supported, created a grant program allowing qualifying wind projects to move forward at a time of constrained private capital during the financial crisis.
Joining Johnson at the event were Steve Kolbeck, Public Utilities Commissioner, Pierre; Sister Pam Donelan, President, Presentation Sisters; Dave Giovannini, General Manager, Molded Fiberglass; Nick Sershen, Vice President of SD Wind Partners and Greg Von Wald, President of Mitchell Tech and board member of the SD Wind Energy Association.
