“Manufactured in South Dakota, the wind turbine blade symbolizes how clean energy creates new U.S. manufacturing jobs in addition to providing clean power for America’s homes and factories,” said Vic Abate, vice president for renewables at GE Energy. “It’s clear from the more than 6,000 signatures on this traveling petition that Americans are calling on the president and Congress to act now on clean energy policies that will increase energy security, reduce dependence on foreign oil and build a more sustainable clean energy future.”

More than 6,000 Americans across the country—including people from all walks of life: factory workers, managers, engineers, service and transportation workers, public officials and the general public— signed the blade, which carries the message: “I’m helping to build America’s energy future,” issuing a call to Congress: Create More American Jobs by Enacting Clean Energy Policies This Year

 Facts about the Wind Turbine Blade:

The blade of a 1.5-MW wind turbine is nearly half a football field in length.

 Including the blade, the height of a 1.5-MW wind turbine is about the same as a 30-story building—more than 75 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty.

One 1.5-MW wind turbine produces enough energy to power approximately 400 households.

To generate the same amount of electricity as a single 1.5-MW wind turbine operating for 20 years would require burning 43,500 tons of coal or 138,000 barrels of oil and withdrawing 90 million gallons of water per year from a stream or river.