June 15 marks the first-ever Global Wind Day. It will be celebrated in 25 countries.  Organized by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), it  aims to promote awareness of wind energy worldwide, and asks  the public to celebrate wind power as a near-term solution to global climate change and a driver for economic growth in local communities. 

"In the United States, Global Wind Day comes at a time when the nation is surging forward in wind and renewable energy development," said AWEA CEO Denise Bode, "but we risk losing this momentum and tens of thousands of jobs if Congress does not adopt a strong national renewable energy standard, or RES. America could lose ground to China and Europe where strong renewable energy policy commitments are driving investment in manufacturing and development. It's time for a national RES here in the U.S We need to seize this historic opportunity to create jobs, build up our renewable energy industry, and fight climate change."

Also on Global Wind Day, the Western Governors' Association will feature U.S. Secretary of Energy Stephen Chu, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chair Jon Wellinghoff, and U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar in a panel discussion about tapping the nation's vast renewable energy resources at its annual meeting in Park City, Utah.

For more information, visit http://www.westgov.org/wga/meetings/am2009/index.htm