South Dakota wind supporters want national renewable energy standard in place

Supporters tout unified renewable energy standard

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Officials associated with wind energy want Congress to establish a national renewable energy standard that they say would promote jobs in South Dakota and spark the economy.

Steve Wegman with the South Dakota Wind Energy Association said about 10 percent of the state’s energy now comes from wind. He says that’s third highest among the states.

Two bills pending in Congress call for either 3 percent or 6 percent of electricity to come from renewable sources. Wegman says that’s not enough.

Sampson Brown, the president and chief executive of Knight & Carver Wind Group at Howard, said setting it at 20 percent to 25 percent would attract investors to the wind energy industry.