Any time someone asks us about wind leases, especially if they have been approached by a developer who wants to lease their land, we tell that person to call a lawyer, preferably one with experience in wind energy law.

Sometimes a lawyer like that can be difficult to find because wind is a pretty specialized legal topic. Louise (the new WoWE coordinator at our office) recently found an article in the Des Moines Register talking about how law schools are starting to teach courses in wind law.

Right now, you can read it online here: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008805060372

--Marin

Forty five attendees spent the last day of Community Wind Energy 2008 on a day trip to the Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort to see the 1.5 MW community wind project. We enjoyed presentations about the turbine (named Zephyr) from Tyler Fairbank of EOS Ventures and Brian Fairbank of Jiminy Peak. The highlight of the day was a trip up a ski lift to hike to the base of the turbine and then back down the mountain. A wonderful lunch was provided as well. Thanks again to EOS Ventures for sponsoring the trip and Jiminy Peak for being such great hosts!

We just wrapped up the second day of Community Wind Energy 2008 in Albany, New York. The conference has been a great success, with people from 36 states, 4 other countries, and all parts of the community wind world in attendance.

Tomorrow we head to Jiminy Peak in Massachusetts to learn about their community wind project.

We are! Windustry staff spent Sunday afternoon getting the Empire State Plaza Convention Center all ready for Community Wind Energy 2008, which starts tomorrow (Monday, April 14) at 7 am with an early-bird session on wind energy basics. Most attendees will start at 8:30 in the main convention hall. You can still register on site if you haven't done so yet.

Windustry, and hundreds of others in the community wind world, will be in Albany, New York on April 14-16 for Community Wind Energy 2008. This is a national conference where all sorts of people can come together to support and encourage community wind.

One of the hardest things we have to do here at Windustry is tell people that they shouldn't try to put up a wind turbine. Most times, people don't want to hear that. They think that we should support any and all wind energy.

The 2XtM (To Cross the Moon) snowkiting expedition is setting off across North Dakota today. The expedition is using their adventure to bring awareness of the state's amazing wind resource to the communities that stand to benefit from ND wind development.

Rapid growth in the wind industry is often cited as one of the challenges for community wind, as demand for turbines, parts, services, and just about everything else outpaces the supply. Last week we got a glimpse of just how fast that growth is, courtesy of a news release from the American Wind Energy Association.

We've made an exciting connection with the folks at 2XtM (To Cross the Moon). They're putting together a snowkiting expedition accross North Dakota to highlight the state's amazing wind resource and encourage wind energy there.

KENNEBUNKPORT — Walker's Point is a little greener these days. Last week, a 33-foot-tall windmill was installed to generate electricity for the oceanfront home of former President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara.