While we appreciate attention toward the issue of energy supply, the Herald's editorial on Dec. 12, "Paying wind farms for zip FERC's idea of level playing field," leaves out some key points.

Taxpayers deserve the full story about all energy sources and the policies that shape how they are used. It is important to understand how all aspects of our energy mix shape our economies, communities, environment and future.

Despite the Herald editorial board's criticism, many Washington citizens have joined diverse businesses, utilities, salmon advocates and clean energy groups applauding FERC's ruling on the Bonneville Power Administration's "environmental redispatch" policy.

As our region shifts away from coal toward a cleaner, more stable energy supply, we are moving toward an energy system for tomorrow that is more sustainable -- economically and environmentally -- than today's.

Wind energy comprises less than 5 percent of our region's energy mix: a mere slice of the coal, natural gas and hydro supply. Just as other fuel sources far outweigh the new renewables on the system, these established fuel industries exceed new renewables in their long history of government support.

The federal government's investment in the hydro system resulted in cheap, clean hydropower for our use today. Taxpayer funded subsidies -- embedded since the 1920s -- secured the fossil fuel industry as the most profitable in the playing field, posting multibillion-dollar gains amid the global recession.

The issue of power overgeneration is about the system and its array of resources, not about one renewable resource. Hydro, nuclear, coal, wind and natural gas are all factors. Integrating wind onto the Bonneville system does not increase costs to its customers.

In fact, according to BPA, wind power not only pays its own way but also helps to offset fixed operating costs that other customers would otherwise have to pay.

Wind generators have purchased firm contractual transmission rights over BPA's system to deliver wind power to load centers in the Northwest and the west. As cited in reports to the region's public utilities commissions, Northwest utilities have found new renewable projects added to their portfolios to be the least cost, least risk of all options. Wind power today is cost-competitive and guarantees a stable rate for consumers over its 20 to 30-year life, unlike the volatile prices of other resources.

That's not all. Wind energy is good for human health, displacing coal and other fuels that pollute the air we breathe. It diversifies our electric resource portfolio and has no fuel cost.

Furthermore, renewable industries support our regional economy, making big contributions to our workforce and rural communities during tough economic times.

Washington alone has attracted more than $8 billion in investments from renewable energy companies to date, plus nearly $60 million in tax revenues that spur economic vitality in rural counties, supporting schools and community services.

Benton County alone enjoys annual tax payments of around $400,000 per year from its wind farm. About 20 families living in the communities reached by the Tri-City Herald make a good living from wind farms.

We can expand this economic opportunity for workers, manufacturers, farmers, ranchers and communities if we maintain a welcoming environment, which means stable transmission contracts and supportive policies like the state Renewable Energy Standard and federal production tax credit.

FERC's ruling answered legal questions surrounding BPA's "environmental redispatch" policy and unilateral curtailments of wind; it determined that BPA should treat nonfederal resources that purchase transmission rights over its system no differently than it treats its own resources.

We value our collaboration with BPA, and together we will devise equitable, affordable solutions to overgeneration, from improved forecasting to working beyond the BPA balancing area to displace fossil fuel across the west.

Our energy community cares about our region and is well qualified to solve the challenges of an evolving system. We look forward to working with all partners to find solutions that will keep rates low while harnessing our region's abundant clean energy opportunities.

-- Rachel Shimshak is executive director at Renewable Northwest Project, a nonprofit regional advocacy group that supports the responsible development of renewable energy resources. Visit: www.rnp.org.