The Energy Information Agency is predicting US energy demand to increase 39 percent by 2030. Despite some of the proactive steps states are taking to increase their renewable energy supply, without a comprehensive federal energy plan we are going to be facing a whole lot more coal plants. But, what can be done in just 23 years?

According to the Energy Department, the answer is blowing in the wind. A new DOE report concludes that the US is very capable of producing 20 percent of its energy needs through wind power by 2030.

While not as ambitious as Denmark's claim it will generate half of its electricity through wind power by 2025, 20 percent would have huge positive environmental impacts, including:

• reducing CO2 emissions from electricity production by 25 percent.
• reducing water consumption for electricity generation by 4 trillion gallons.
• Reducing natural gas consumption by 11 percent, which is equal to 60 percent of liquid natural gas imports in 2030.

Considering that 60 percent of the untapped natural gas reserves are in Russia, Iran and Qatar, every single politician who wants to be re-elected should be pushing to extend, if not make permanent, the Renewable Energy Tax Credit. Unless of course they get a kick out of supporting repressive regimes. Plus, building the turbines, new transmission lines, maintenance, etc. will generate hundreds of thousands of jobs and provide hundreds of millions in revenue for rural communities.