http://cleantechnica.com/2013/04/25/american-wind-energy-association-names-new-ceo/

She has an “interesting” background for someone whose job it was to champion renewable energy. From Wiki…

Bode worked for nine years on the staff of then–U.S. Senator David Boren as his legal counsel, focusing on the areas of energy and taxation and staffing the Senate Finance Committee.[6]

Before joining the Corporation Commission, Bode served for seven years as president of the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) in Washington, D.C.[1] She preceded her service at IPAA as a founding partner of a Washington D.C. firm,[2] where she represented businesses ranging from agriculture to life insurance.

Bode was appointed to President George W. Bush’s Energy Transition Advisory Team[7] and has testified before Congress on numerous occasions, as well as lectured at the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society. She represented the United States in Oslo, Norway, at the International Union Conservative Women’s Conference. She was elected by state regulators from the eight states that make up the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) region to serve as President of SPP’s Regional State Committee. The committee is charged with directing electric transmission expansion in Oklahoma and the other states in the SPP region.

In 2002, Denise Bode ran for Attorney General against incumbent Drew Edmondson and was defeated by Edmondson (60%-40%).

Bode was a candidate for the Republican Nomination for the Oklahoma 5th Congressional District; however, she lost the Republican Party nomination in the July 25, 2006 primary.[8]

On April 20, 2007, Bode announced her intention to resign as Corporation Commissioner and form theAmerican Clean Skies Foundation to promote the use of natural gas.[9] On May 14, 2007 Brad Henryappointed Jim Roth as her replacement.[10] On January 1, 2009, Bode resigned from ACSF to become the new CEO of the American Wind Energy Association.

-former Republican governor stepping down from CEO role bcs wind is now a strong force in several Republican states. (and perhaps also as a compromise in getting the PTC extended?)

-conservationist coming in as new CEO to help deal with illogical NIMBYism.

just ruminating.

There are more Americans working in solar than in mining coal. Oil employs a surprisingly low number of people.

Last December we saw Republican governors of conservative/red states lobbying for continued subsidies for wind farms. We’re seeing fossil-fuel legislation that attempts to hold back renewables being defeated in conservative states.

Wind farms are supporting ranchers and farmers. They are providing badly needed local taxes.

Oklahoma, home of one of our most whacko anti-renewable senators, is becoming a major seller of wind energy to Southeastern states including Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia. Oklahoma’s wind industry is growing well past just supplying in-state needs and becoming an important source of imported income.

Money talks….