Recently a petition in the form of a 131- foot wind turbine blade was delivered by GE Energy and the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) from Americans.
The huge blade traveled more than 4,000 miles through 10 states and gathered signatures from Americans who support a clean energy future. Arrived on the back of a truck bed in Washington DC, it was parked in front on the main gate of the Nationals Park for the 2010 Congressional Baseball Game.
“The wind turbine blade, manufactured in South Dakota, symbolizes how clean energy creates new U.S. manufacturing jobs in addition to providing clean power for America’s homes and factories,” said Vic Abate, vice president for renewable at GE Energy. “It’s clear from the more than 6,000 signatures on this traveling petition that Americans are calling on the president and Congress to act on clean-energy policies that will increase energy security, reduce dependence on foreign oil and build a more sustainable clean energy future.”
More than 6,000 Americans across the country—factory workers, managers, engineers, service and transportation workers, public officials and the general public—signed the blade, with the printed message: “I’m helping to build America’s energy future,” issuing a call to Congress: Create more American jobs by enacting clean energy policies this year.
Facts about the wind turbine blade:
• The blade of a 1.5-MW wind turbine is nearly half a football field in length.
• Including the blade, the height of a 1.5-MW wind turbine is more than 75 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty.
• One 1.5-MW wind turbine produces enough energy to power about 400 households.
• To generate the same amount of electricity as a single 1.5-MW wind turbine operating for 20 years would require burning 43,500 tons of coal or 138,000 barrels of oil, and 90 million gallons of fresh water per year.
