Wind Heros

The Wind Coalition has announced the recipients of its first annual Wind Champions awards, recognizing policy-makers in Texas who have had an impact on growing the burgeoning wind energy industry in the state.

The coalition issued several awards, including a legacy award for policy-makers that demonstrated vision and were principally responsible for the state policy that allowed for the growth of the wind industry; a champion award for policy-makers who took a leadership role during the renewable energy debate and/or filed key legislation to expand the wind energy marketplace; and an outstanding supporter award to recognize the dozens of policy makers who not only voted favorable on wind energy issues, but who took an advocacy role in encouraging the industry's growth - such as supporting CREZ and issuing public comments in support of wind energy, and economic and environmental policies conducive to the growth of the industry.

Recipients of the award are:

Legacy supporters: Gov. Rick Perry, Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, PUC Chairman Barry Smitherman, former PUC Commissioner Paul Hudson, Senator Troy Fraser, Senator Kim Brimer, Representative David Swinford, Representative Phil King, and Representative Mark Strama.

Champion supporters: Sens. Kip Averitt, Kel Seliger, Leticia Van de Putte, Judith Zaffirini, Kirk Watson and Rep. Warren Chisum.

Outstanding supporters: Sens. Robert Duncan, Craig Estes, Rodney Ellis, Kevin Eltife and Carlos Uresti. Representatives Alma Allen, Rafael Anchia, Doc Anderson, Dan Barrett, Leo Berman, Dwayne Bohac, Valinda Bolton, Dan Branch, Lon Burnam, Joaquin Castro, Wayne Christian, Ellen Cohen, Garnet Coleman, Drew Darby, Yvonne Davis, Joe Deshotel, Dawnna Dukes, Jim Dunnam, Harold Dutton, Kirk England, David Farabee, Dan Flynn, Stephen Frost, Pete Gallego, Juan Garcia, Ryan Guillen, Rick Hardcastle, Linda Harper-Brown, Joe Heflin, Ana Hernandez, Scott Hochberg, Donna Howard, Carl Isett, Delwin Jones, Ruth Jones McClendon, Susan King, David Leibowitz, Eddie Lucio, III, Jerry Madden, Trey Martinez-Fischer, Brian McCall, Jose Menendez, Elliott Naishtat, Rene Oliveira, Dora Olivo, Solomon Ortiz, Ken Paxton, Paula Pierson, Jim Pitts, Eddie Rodriguez, Patrick Rose, John Smithee, Joe Straus, Larry Taylor, Sylvester Turner, Corbin Van Arsdale, Allen Vaught, Marc Veasey, Mike Villarreal, Hubert Vo and Bill Zedler.

SOURCE: Wind Coalition