My name is Mary Agnes Rider and I am an advocate who resides in the City of Pittsburgh. I am writing about S. 2660, the Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2019, having just completed an ordered report. I encourage you to support this legislation as written on the grounds that you are an advocate for the environment yourself. Although this bill has to do with alternatives to energy and not land and nature conservation, I ask that you earnestly consider voting to pass the bill.

The Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2019 would grant money for the following uses: researching wind energy technologies including designs, materials, and efficiency, and research and determine economic feasibility and efficiency for diverse geographical locations. The current estimated cost of S. 2660 is $574 million that will be dispersed between 2020 and 2024. 

I support this bill because it would aid in decreasing the global CO2 emissions. Currently, there are other renewable energy alternatives that have helped to decrease the effects of global warming. Global warming is a very real issue that needs to have more attention drawn to it. There have been efforts made to increase global use of renewable energy but with every advantage there are disadvantages. A perfect example of this is solar energy; it is a renewable and clean source, but the areas that get the most sunlight are the great plains. Unfortunately, solar energy panels take up many square feet, leaving less room for farmers to plant crops. Wind energy would provide a different renewable and clean alternative to solar panels in the U.S. and would take up less horizontal space because of their vertical nature. 

I believe that wind energy is a promising future for renewable energy especially along the coasts, plains, and mountainous regions in the United States. Pennsylvania is known to be very mountainous; therefore if this bill were to pass Pennsylvania could be considered an area for development. I believe that Pennsylvania should consider adopting more renewable alternatives for energy. 

As of right not the bill’s sponsor is Senator Tina Smith. S.2660’s cosponsors are Senator Susan Collins, Senator Charles “Chuck” Grassley, and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. According to Skopos Labs the Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2019 has a 19% chance of being enacted. Due to the lack of advertising and marketing, there is not a lot of public support for this bill. I believe that if more people knew about it that it would have a high chance of being enacted. 

If you find that S. 2660 Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2019 fits into your current issues and beliefs I urge you to vote to pass this bill.