The United Steelworkers Union and the American Wind Energy Association have joined forces to promote the development of wind energy production in the U.S.

The Partnership for Progress, as the group is calling itself, is aiming to create jobs and put the nation on a more sustainable energy path at the same time.

“The Framework Agreement we’re announcing is the beginning of a road map to help ensure that our nation makes real progress in developing alternative and renewable sources of energy production on a scale that is commensurate with its vast potential,” Leo W. Gerard, USW International President, said, according to a press release.

In announcing the partnership, officials said that it was absolutely essential to develop a domestic supply chain of wind energy so that the U.S. is not reliant on foreign producers, such as is the case with oil.

“We can’t replace our dependence on foreign oil with a dependence on Chinese-made wind turbines,” Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) said. “It’s critical that American manufacturers have the resources to develop and deploy wind energy components. Clean energy will help America regain its leadership in manufacturing. We need to ensure American workers and manufacturers are building the clean energy components that will be used around the world.”

The U.S. currently has 241 wind energy farms, with plans for 100 more, according to the Alliance for American Manufacturing. The problem, however, is that many of the parts are manufactured overseas.

As of February, the U.S. government had spent $2 billion on wind energy projects as part of the $787 billion stimulus package. That is enough to power 2.4 million homes. But eight of every ten dollars spent went to a foreign company, according to a report by ABC News.

The Investigative Reporting Workshop estimates, stimulus funding for wind projects have created roughly 6,000 manufacturing jobs overseas and only hundreds in America.

As of February, stimulus funds have paid to create 1,807 wind turbines to fuel American homes, businesses, schools and other buildings. Just 588 of those were manufactured domestically, according to the report.

The largest grant thus far – $178 million – for a wind farm in Texas, went to a bankrupt Australian company that outsourced the manufacturing to a Japanese company, the report found.

“Wind works for America,” Denise Bode, AWEA CEO, said in a press release. “This framework represents the vast majority of the wind energy sector and is the first major player in the energy industry to clearly show its commitment to utilizing domestically located sources of supply. The American people expect and deserve to have their elected leaders support public policy initiatives that will ensure that all of our goals can be met together. Job creation and long-term economic growth in this sector require the support of a comprehensive public policy agenda.”

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