Conference News

Radio News Feature Reports on Upcoming Wind Conference in Albany

A report from the National Association of Farm Broadcasting News Service interviews Windustry Executive Director Lisa Daniels about the upcoming community and small wind conference in Albany, NY, October 26-28.

Listen to the report:
NAFB Interview on Wind Conference

"The conference will provide all of the information rural landowners need to unlock the economic growth potential of locally-owned wind energy,: says Lisa. "Attendees will see what wind energy can do and what kind of environment it does best in." 

Communities and Farmers Learn How to Harvest the Wind at Conference

Pennsylvania farmer Marty Yahner attended the Community Wind Across America Conference for the Mid-Atlantic region in February 2011 for two reasons: first he spent the last year planning to put a wind turbine up on his on property, and he said "in addition to that, I'm here as a local developer, trying to develop a 30MW project in northern Cambria County on my farmland and the surrounding farmland around us."

“Rural landowners, rural communities, municipalities, and community leaders learned what it takes to put a wind project in the ground, so that they can realize the economic development that wind energy brings.”

Yahner was impressed with the good information at the conference and the level of enthusiasm, saying "There's a lot of passion in the wind industry." Hundreds of conference attendees shared in that passion as "rural landowners, rural communities, municipalities, and community leaders learned what it takes to put a wind project in the ground, so that they can realize the economic development that wind energy brings," explained Lisa Danniels, Windustry Executive Director.

Farm landscape with small wind turbine

Reporter Kristine Allen, with NPR affiliate WPSU, produced an in-depth feature on the Community Wind across America Mid Atlantic conference, held in State College, PA, February 8 and 9, 2011. Allen noted, "At this conference they're not talking about the huge wind farms you've seen on TV commercials, here the focus is on smaller scale projects that can be done by local communities or even by individual homeowners."

Listen to the Community Wind Across America news feature to hear more about how farmers and communities learn to harvest the wind at a Windustry conference:

WPSU news on PA Community Wind Conference

If your browser cannot load the audio, access the news story on the WPSU website.

Find Out More about the upcoming Community Wind Across America Northeast Regional Conference in Albany, NY, October 26-28, 2011.

Community Wind Across America

Registration is now open for Community Wind Across America - Northeast Region

Community Wind Across America - Northeast Region

Windustry is bringing its regional conference series on community and small wind to Albany, NY, where regional and national speakers will discuss the most current issues and best practices in distributed wind energy development.

Northeastern rural landowners, local investors, and community leaders can choose sessions from a two-track program, to get the full range of what's needed to unlock the economic growth potential of locally-owned wind energy.

Northeast Region Conference

Register Now

October 26-28, 2011
The Desmond Hotel, Albany, New York

 

 

"In this conference we show how local communities can benefit from distributed wind development while, as a nation, we diversify our home grown energy sources."
—Lisa Daniels, Windustry Executive Director

Community Wind Across America regional conferences are made possible in part by grant from the Department of Energy, as part of the 20% Wind by 2030 Initiative to bring hundreds of stakeholders together to learn from each other and experts in the renewable energy field. Since 2010, Windustry has held conferences in the Colorado for the Rocky Mountain region; Minnesota for the Midwest, and Pennsylvania for the Mid Atlantic, and Michigan for the Great Lakes Area

Who attends Windustry's Community and Small Wind Energy Conferences

Anyone interested in wind energy: rural landowners, farmers, ranchers, municipal utilities, rural electric cooperatives, elected officials, town planners, tribal representatives, economic development professionals, business leaders, investors, bankers, and community leaders. Each conference covers the full range of what's needed to advance opportunities for locally-owned wind energy production

Community Wind across America conferences to reach Great Lakes and Northeast regions in 2011

cwaalogo

Windustry is pleased to announce two Community Wind across America regional conferences in the coming months

June 24- 26, 2011: The Michigan Energy Fair, Ludington, Michigan

Windustry is excited to partner with Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association to present a full Community and Small Wind program at the 6th annual Michigan Energy Fair at the Mason County Fairgrounds. Topics include: Wind Energy Basics; Introduction to Community Wind; Case Studies of Community and Small Wind; Small Wind Assessment; Landowner Leasing and pooling; Wind Siting and Zoning in Michigan.

Registration for the Michigan Energy Fair includes attending the Community and Small Wind program. You may Register Online in advance or at the fair gates.

Find out more about the Community and Small Wind program
Visit the website for the Michigan Energy Fair

October 26-28, 2011: The Desmond Hotel, Albany, New York

Windustry brings practical “how to” information on Community and Small Wind to the Northeast Region. National experts will provide the full range of what's needed for rural landowners, local investors, and community leaders to unlock the economic growth potential of locally-owned wind energy. Watch for more information on this event. Interested in sponsorships and exhibiting? Email [email protected] or call 612-870-3477

Community Wind Across America regional conferences are made possible in part by grant from the Department of Energy, as part of the 20% Wind by 2030 Initiative, to bring hundreds of stakeholders together to learn from each other and experts in the renewable energy field.  Since 2010, Windustry has held conferences in the Colorado for the Rocky Mountain region; Minnesota for the Midwest, and Pennsylvania for the Mid Atlantic.

In the News: Report on Windustry Conference in State College

Reporter Kristine Allen, with NPR affiliate WPSU, produced an in-depth feature on the Community Wind across America Mid Atlantic conference, held in State College, PA, February 8 and 9, 2011. Allen says, "At this conference they're not talking about the huge wind farms you've seen on TV commercials, here the focus is on smaller scale projects that can be done by local communities or even by individual homeowners."

The focus is on smaller scale projects that can be done by local communities or even by individual homeowners.The story includes interview comments with Lisa Daniels, Executive Director, Windustry; Jacques Beaudry-Losique, Director, Wind and Water Power Program, U.S. Department of Energy; Susan Stewart, Director, Penn State Wind Application Center, Pennsylvania State University; Jim Brasseur, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Bioengineering, and Mathematics; and John Franek, Zoning Officer, College Township, PA.

Listen to "Community Wind Conference hosted by Penn State"

Community Benefits at the Heart of Mid Atlantic Wind Conference in State College, PA

Windustry is pleased to announce the program for  Community Wind across America regional conference in State College, PA, February 8-9, 2011.

In a program designed to address the most current issues and best practices in distributed wind energy development, regional and national speakers take up the subjects of growing the market, local involvement and investment, public policy and national energy independence. Breakout sessions delve into the specifics of what's needed to advance and build Community and Small Wind energy projects in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

When: February 8-9, 2011
Where:
Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, State College, PA

 

"In this conference we demonstrate that local communities can benefit from distributed wind development while, as a nation, we diversify our home grown energy sources. We’re inviting new folks into the wind and renewable energy conversation and providing the opportunity for interested individuals to build a network of distributed energy experts dedicated to new industry, jobs and economic growth."
—Lisa Daniels, Windustry Executive Director

National Leaders Speak to Current Issues

Distributed Energy and Energy Security frame keynote addresses from Jacques Beaudry-Losique, Wind and Water Program Manager, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, US DOE; Jessica Zufolo, Deputy Administrator for Rural Utilities Service, USDA; John Hanger, former Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and James Woolsey, former CIA Director and energy independence advocate.

Stories From the Field Illustrate Cooperation and Innovative Business Models at work

LCSWMA - PPL Wind Turbines
Wind turbine erected at Frey Farm Landfill, Conestoga, PA for Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority by PPL Renewable Energy, September 2010.

Regional success stories to be highlighted include the Frey Farm Wind project in Lancaster County. Jim Warner, CEO of Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority (LCSWM), will give an on-the-ground perspective of this wind energy project, describing the unique partnership between LCSWM Authority and PPL Renewable Energy, and what it took to get it going.

Robert Michael Specter, CBO for University of Delaware (UD), will also be on hand to highlight the wind development on UD Lewes Campus that meets its electricity needs and works as an educational and research tool. Guests will also hear from Roy Butler who has owned and operated a small wind turbine to power his home and business for many years.

Two Days - Two Tracks

The conference will feature eighteen program sessions that examine the details of locally-owned, utility-scale and residential wind energy development, including: Emerging Business Models, Mid-sized Wind Turbines, Education and Community Engagement, Permitting for Wind Projects in the Mid Atlantic Region, and Examples of How Small Wind can Work for You.

Day one ends with a reception and screening of "Wind Uprising," a documentary that chronicles the developmental saga of an entrepreneur and an engineer who broke trail for wind energy in their home state of Utah. They worked through legislative barriers, fickle investors, power purchasing conundrums, and a 'Not In My Back Yard' resistance from area residents.

Attendees include rural landowners, community leaders, elected officials, clean energy advocates, state and federal agencies, zoning and permitting officials, wind developers, educators and academics, economic development professionals, and national leaders.

This event follows Windustry’s 2010 conferences in the Rocky Mountain and Midwest regions, where attendees remarked on the strong networking environment and high professional quality of the national and regional leaders present. More Community Wind across America events will be announced in 2011.

REGISTER online for this conference or phone 612-870-3477.

Mid Atlantic Conference Keynote Speakers

Jacques Beaudry-Losique

Wind & Water Program Manager, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy

Jacques Beaudry-Losique

Jacques Beaudry-Losique was appointed in April 2010 as the Program Manager for the Wind & Water for the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). Jacques held multiple senior positions at EERE since 2005, including two years as Deputy-Assistant Secretary for Renewable Energy and three years leading major clean energy programs. Prior to DOE, Jacques has held senior executive positions for major U.S. corporations and also has many years of experience as a management consultant with McKinsey and Company. In his keynote address at the conference, Mr. Beaudry-Losique will draw from the Program’s recent studies on Deployment Barriers to Distributed Wind Energy.

Jessica Zufolo

Deputy Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Jessica Zufolo

Jessica Zufolo was appointed by President Barack Obama to be Deputy Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). RUS provides leadership and capital to upgrade, expand, maintain, and replace America's vast rural electric infrastructure, as well as its water and telecommunications infrastructures.  The Program makes loans and loan guarantees to finance the construction of electricity distribution, transmission and generation, including on- and off-grid renewable energy systems.

John Hanger

Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and national leader on green economy, environment and energy issues

John Hanger

John Hanger is strongly affiliated with securing the law requiring Pennsylvania investor-owned utilities to offer net metering (up to 3 MW to nonresidential customers and 50 kW to residential customers). He has held numerous leadership positions, including Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Chair of the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority. He was the founding President of Citizens of Pennsylvania's Future (PennFuture). Mr Hanger continues to work on green economy, environment and energy issues.

James Woolsey

Former CIA Director and energy independence advocate

James Woolsey

James Woolsey, an energy independence advocate and former CIA Director, has prepared a video address for Community Wind across America participants. National security and distributed energy frame his argument for developing all forms of renewable energy, supportive legislation, and forcing competition between petroleum products and other fuels. These measures, says Woolsey, are critical to a security strategy “to move away from oil,” which currently funds enemy states, and lays Americans vulnerable to possible terrorist strikes and disruptions.

 Read more about the Community Wind across America conference

Scholarships available for the Community Wind Across America MidAtlantic Conference

(Minneapolis MN) The Appalachian Regional Commission is sponsoring Scholarships for the Community Wind Across America Mid Atlantic Conference in State College, Pennsylvania, February 8-9, 2011.

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is a federal-state partnership that works for sustainable, community and economic development in Appalachia. These scholarships are intended to  encourage a broad participation from the Appalachian region. Each application will be reviewed by the conference organizing committee and successful applicants will be contacted directly.

Applications that meet the following criteria are welcome to apply for the Scholarships:

  • Applicants from the eligible Appalachian counties only are welcome to apply for scholarships. A detailed list of the counties in Appalachia can be found on the Appalachian Regional Commission's website
  • Applications should include a one-page summary of the applicants interest/work in Community or Small Wind Energy and a summary of what they hope to gain from attending the conference.
  • Scholarships are distributed on a first come, first served basis, with consideration for geographic balance.
  • Each scholarship will enable one person to attend the full two-day program of the 'Community Wind Across America' Conference in State College,

    Travel and accommodation are not included in the scholarship and all conference participants are responsible for booking their own accommodation directly through the Hotel.

Wesley Clark tells conference goers Community Wind is the "sweet spot"

General Wesley Clark deleivering keynote address at Community Wind across America Midwest conference, 2010
General Wesley Clark at
Community Wind across America

A four star general, a former CIA director, and a U.S. senator each brought messages for a national energy policy to the regional Community Wind across America Midwest conference, held in St. Paul, MN, this past fall.

Link: Slide show of event highlights

The Midwest event marked the second in a series of Community and Small Wind conferences presented by Windusty, with support of the U.S. Department of Energy. Wesley Clark delivered a keynote address during the two-day event, which focused on wind energy development with the highest benefit for residents of the region. The retired general called for a stop to America’s massive spending on foreign fuel. “We can’t import oil at the expense of the American economy. The money has to stay here. It is the difference between 4% growth and creating jobs and 2% growth and losing jobs,” said Clark. He went on the say that Community Wind is the “sweet spot” for creating new energy sources, as that power can plug into the current transmission grid.

National security and distributed energy framed an address from former CIA director James Woolsey, delivered by video. The longtime proponent of alternative energy said our best security strategy is “to move away from oil,” which currently funds enemy states, and lays Americans vulnerable to possible terrorist strikes and disruptions in supply. He argued for America to develop all forms of renewable energy, and supportive legislation to encourage investment and advancement of it.

U.S. Senator Al Franken (D-MN) stated that it is incumbent upon legislators to establish a Federal Renewable Energy Standard, and add further incentives that would bolster Community Wind development. Franken was in session at the time and his letter was read by a representative from his office.

At the regional level, 300 attendees from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, South and North Dakota learned the needed details for how to develop wind energy with the highest benefit for area residents. Among them were Community Wind industry leaders, developers, turbine manufacturers, utility representatives, and government officials provided details around permitting, overcoming transmission grid limitations, and turbine selection.

Said an attendee. "Speaking one on one with attendees and presenters was very valuable. I was able to get personal responses to specific question."

The conference was also supported by national sponsoring partner Nordic Wind Power.

General Wesley Clark joins all-star roster for Midwest Wind Conference

General Wesley Clark
General Wesley Clark

Special Guest General Wesley Clark joins an all-star roster of wind luminaries for the Community Wind across America conference for the Midwest Region on November 15-16 in St. Paul, Minnesota. General Clark opens Monday evening's reception (5:30 pm), the four star Army general has called for a Renewable Energy Standard for the country and extending tax credits for renewables, much the way the government encourages oil and gas development.

Program speakers for the two-day event include Community Wind pioneer Dan Juhl and Small Wind guru Mick Sagrillo. Economics professor Arne Kildegaard, will speak to the regional economic impact of wind development with local ownership and Craig Lewis, of the FIT Coalition, will present on the benefits of Feed-In Tariffs.

See the full two-day Agenda for the Community and Small Wind Energy event at the Crowne Plaza Hotel St. Paul, Minnesota on November 15-16. Discounted registration fees of $125 are available through November 11, so don't delay. 

Get more information about the Community Wind across America conference series.

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