American Wind Energy Association

American Wind Energy Association
Name	American Wind Energy Association
Abbreviation	AWEA
Formation	1974
Dissolution	2020 (merged)
Predecessor	Wind Energy Association (1970s)
Successor	American Clean Power Association
Type	Trade association
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Region served	United States
Membership	Utilities, manufacturers, wind developers, service providers
Leader title	CEO
Leader name	Tom Kiernan (former)

American Wind Energy Association

The American Wind Energy Association was a United States trade association representing the wind power industry, active in Washington, D.C. and across the United States. It engaged with stakeholders including energy companies, manufacturers, utilities, private developers, environmental groups and research institutions to promote wind energy deployment, regulatory change, and industry standards. The organization played roles in policy debates involving federal agencies, state legislatures, renewable energy advocates, and industry consortia prior to merging into the American Clean Power Association.

History

The association traced roots to the 1970s energy debates surrounding the Oil Crisis and the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, with early constituencies linked to regional advocacy such as the New England Governors' Conference and the California Energy Commission. In the 1980s it intersected with landmark events like the Tax Reform Act of 1986 and the evolution of production tax incentives, while engaging litigatively with agencies including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Department of Energy. During the 1990s and 2000s it responded to legislative milestones such as the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and the renewable portfolio standards enacted in states like California, Texas, and Iowa. AWEA worked contemporaneously with organizations including the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Electric Power Research Institute, the Environmental Protection Agency, and environmental NGOs such as Sierra Club and Natural Resources Defense Council. In the 2010s the association navigated debates around the Production Tax Credit, offshore leasing administered by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and transmission policy involving the North American Electric Reliability Corporation. It merged in 2020 with the Solar Energy Industries Association-aligned constituencies to form the American Clean Power Association.

Mission and Activities

AWEA’s stated mission centered on expanding wind power capacity and market access through engagement with entities like the United States Congress, the White House, regulatory bodies such as the Federal Aviation Administration, and state public utility commissions including the California Public Utilities Commission. It promoted projects operated by firms such as NextEra Energy, Iberdrola Renewables, Vestas Wind Systems, GE Renewable Energy, and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy. The association coordinated with grid operators such as PJM Interconnection, Independent System Operator New England, Electric Reliability Council of Texas, and Midcontinent Independent System Operator to address interconnection and reliability concerns. AWEA also collaborated with finance institutions including the Department of the Treasury, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, major banks like JPMorgan Chase, and investment vehicles such as BlackRock and Goldman Sachs to mobilize capital for wind projects.

Organizational Structure and Membership

AWEA’s governance included a board of directors drawn from corporations such as EDF Renewables North America, Avangrid Renewables, Dominion Energy, and Shell Energy. Committees addressed technical issues working with standards bodies like American National Standards Institute and Underwriters Laboratories. Membership encompassed manufacturers, developers, service providers, utilities, academic institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, and University of Colorado Boulder, and research centers including the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories. The association maintained regional engagement with state trade groups including the California Wind Energy Association and municipal partners such as the City of Houston.

Advocacy and Policy Influence

AWEA engaged in federal lobbying before committees like the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce, advancing positions on tax policy, transmission planning, offshore leasing, and environmental compliance under statutes such as the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. It filed comments with agencies including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and the Department of the Interior on matters like offshore wind leasing and turbine permitting. The association coordinated campaigns with allied organizations such as American Petroleum Institute on transmission issues, Union of Concerned Scientists on climate impacts, and labor partners like the Building Trades Union on workforce development. AWEA’s policy work intersected with major legislative initiatives such as the Inflation Reduction Act deliberations and state-level renewable portfolio standard debates in jurisdictions like New York and Massachusetts.

Research, Standards, and Publications

AWEA sponsored and disseminated technical reports, market analyses, and standards collateral often authored in partnership with entities such as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Electric Power Research Institute, and academic researchers from University of Texas at Austin and Duke University. Publications included market reports tracking installations alongside datasets used by analysts at Bloomberg New Energy Finance, IHS Markit, and Wood Mackenzie. The association contributed to standards and best practices developed with the International Electrotechnical Commission, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. It also produced white papers addressing wildlife impacts studied with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and avian collision research conducted with institutions like Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Events and Industry Programs

AWEA organized major conferences and expos attended by stakeholders including developers like Ørsted (company), manufacturers such as Goldwind and Suzlon, utilities, financiers, and policy makers. Signature events included national conferences that hosted delegations from foreign trade missions such as Denmark and Germany, and sessions featuring speakers from United States Department of Energy, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and congressional delegations. Programs included workforce development initiatives linked to Apprenticeship programs and partnership efforts with educational institutions like Portland State University and Iowa State University. The association also managed awards and recognition programs that highlighted projects alongside entities such as National Hydropower Association awardees and cross-sector partners.

Category:Trade associations based in the United States Category:Wind power in the United States