Myths and Facts About Renewable Energy

The April 24 op-ed by James Schlesinger and Robert L. Hirsch, "Getting Real on Wind and Solar," recycled tired myths about renewable energy that have been conclusively refuted by a number of sources, including the Bush administration's Energy Department. A quick read of the department's 2008 report "20% Wind Energy by 2030" would reveal that:

-- Wind energy does not require 100 percent backup, and the minimal amount of power system reserves that are needed, added to the existing fleet of reserves, have almost no effect on carbon dioxide emissions. All generators (coal, nuclear and gas) require some power system backup. In a recently released report, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation confirmed the feasibility of high wind penetration without the need for anywhere near 100 percent backup.

-- The Energy Department's report calculated that 20 percent wind power compared with a scenario of no new wind energy production would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by the equivalent of taking 140 million cars off the road, at an additional cost to the average ratepayer equal to a can of Coke a month.

DENISE BODE

Chief Executive

American Wind Energy Association

Washington