Byron Dorgan: “I rise to discuss funding for a wind transmission study that was included in the fiscal year 2005 Omnibus Appropriations…”

“I rise to discuss funding for a wind transmission study that was included in the fiscal year 2005 Omnibus Appropriations bill signed into law last December. As a member of the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, I appreciated the efforts of Senators Domenici and Reid, the chairman and the ranking member of our subcommittee, to include $500,000 for the Western Area Power Administration, WAPA, to continue its work on the placement of additional wind capacity in the Dakotas. They have generously provided funding for similar work for the past two years, and I am glad these efforts will be continued during this coming fiscal year. North Dakota is the 'Saudi Arabia' of wind. The Department of Energy has long identified North Dakota as having the greatest wind energy resource and potential for wind generation development in the lower 48 States. During my time in the Senate, I have been pushing hard on a number of fronts to develop our wind energy resources. For example, I have been a strong supporter of the Renewable Portfolio Standard, RPS, which requires utilities to produce 10 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020. In addition, I believe the Federal Government should be a leader in this area and develop a policy of purchasing electricity from renewable energy sources.”