Issue #47 July 16-27, 2012
The Wind Powering America Newsletter is issued twice a month to inform WPA partners and interested individuals of wind energy events, webinars, financial opportunities, new publications, state success stories, and other WPA activities. If you have news items and success stories to share, please submit to Ruth Baranowski.
News
Webinars
Events
News
WPA Produces Wind Energy Education Postcard
WPA produced another wind energy information postcard as part of a series that features links to WPA website sections. The new postcard, Wind Energy Education and Training Programs , is available as a free download. It includes a link to a map of wind energy education and training program locations at community colleges, universities, and other institutions in the United States, as well as contacts and program details. Information postcards for the following topics are also available. If you would like to print these postcards to distribute at your events, please contact Ruth Baranowski to request high-resolution files.
Small Wind Conference Presentations Available
Thirty-five 2012 Small Wind Conference presentations from the recent conference in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, are now available for online viewing. The presentations cover a wide variety of topics of interest to small wind installers, site assessors, manufacturers, system designers, supply chain vendors, educators, advocates, public benefits program managers, and permitting authorities.
NABCEP Seeks Input from Small Wind Industry
If you work with small wind systems, the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) requests your assistance with a survey. A group of industry experts has been working with NABCEP to develop small wind entry-level learning objectives that describe the fundamental knowledge and skills required in a variety of job settings and roles. When finalized, the learning objectives will provide guidance for the development of small wind education and training programs, will be used to establish the test content outline for an entry-level small wind exam, and will help ensure that entry-level small wind practitioners have the requisite knowledge and skills for safe and effective practice. The objectives are ready to be reviewed and validated by members of the profession through an online survey. Small wind installers, site assessors, educators and trainers, manufacturers, distributors, those in sales and marketing, state program managers, and all others with expertise in small wind are invited to sign up to participate in the survey.
Two New Renewable Energy Reports Published
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently published the following reports:
2010 Cost of Wind Energy Review
This document provides a detailed description of NREL's levelized cost of wind energy equation, assumptions, and results in 2010, including historical cost trends and future projections for land-based and offshore utility-scale wind.
§1603 Treasury Grant Expiration: Industry Insight on Financing and Market Implications
In the wake of the 2008–2009 financial crises, tax equity investors largely withdrew from the renewable energy market, resulting in project development stagnation. In response, Congress established the Treasury grant program pursuant to Section 1603 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (§1603 Program) to offer a cash payment in lieu of production and investment tax credits. The authors address the potential project financing and market impacts from the expiration of the §1603 Program.
Webinars
Wind Powering America July Webinar: The 30-Meter High-Resolution Wind Map for Small and Distributed Wind Projects: Its Value and Appropriate Use
July 18, 2012, 3 p.m. ET
This webinar will provide an introduction to the new, state-of-the-art 30-meter high-resolution wind maps that have been developed for the small and distributed wind markets. Included in the discussion will be the methodology behind the wind maps, how these maps leverage the learning that occurred in the development of the utility-scale wind maps, and the appropriate use of the maps.
Audio access:
800-988-9387
Participant passcode: 5263973
Web access:
https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join.php?i=RW9341550&p=5263973&t=c
Wind 101 - The Business of Wind
July 24, 2012, 1 p.m. ET
The American Wind Energy Association will host this webinar featuring industry veterans providing a high-level view of the wind power business. Topics include required financial planning and economic intricacies of wind projects, and the siting issues and challenges to building land-based or offshore wind projects. Planned speakers are Jeff Anthony, American Wind Energy Association; Sara Bergan, Stoel Rives LLP; and Taylor Geer, Garrad Hassan.
Grid Reliability: Impacts to Tribal Renewable Projects Webinar
July 25, 2012, 1 p.m. ET
Hosted by the Energy Department's Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, Tribal Energy Program, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Western Area Power Administration, this webinar will provide an overview of North American Electric Reliability Corporation compliance from a power system operations and maintenance perspective, as well as discuss the purpose of a compliance program, the responsible parties and their roles, and how tribal renewable projects can be impacted by reliability requirements. This is the seventh in a series of webinars that will continue through September 2012. The webinar is free but registration is required.
Wind 101 - Laying the Technical Foundation
July 26, 2012, 1 p.m. ET
The American Wind Energy Association will host this webinar that provides a technical understanding of the wind energy industry – from project economics and how site planning impacts project development, to wind dynamics and how to get wind power to the transmission grid. Planned speakers are Larry Jacobs, NRG Systems, Inc.; Paul Veers, National Renewable Energy Laboratory; and David Berry, Clean Line Energy Partners, LLC.
Wind Powering America August Webinar: Renewable Electricity Futures Study
August 15, 2012, 3 p.m. ET
Those who were able to attend the WPA All States Summit in Atlanta were treated to the first public presentation of the landmark Renewable Electricity Futures Study. Now that the study has been formally released by NREL and the Energy Department, the entire WPA audience will be able to hear about this important study.
Audio access:
800-988-9387
Participant passcode: 5263973
Web access:
https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join.php?i=RW9341550&p=5263973&t=c
Office of Indian Energy START Program Status Webinar
September 26, 2012, 1 p.m. ET
Hosted by the Energy Department's) Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, Tribal Energy Program, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Western Area Power Administration, this webinar will provide an update on the Energy Department's Office of Indian Energy's Strategic Technical Assistance Response Team (START) Program and the range of projects that were selected in 2012. START and Alaska START aim to advance clean energy generation in Indian Country and provide federally recognized Native American and Alaska Native governments with strategic technical assistance to accelerate clean energy project deployment. This is the eighth in a series of webinars that will run through September 2012. The webinar is free, but registration is required.
Events
WP 101: Wind Design and Installation
Anchorage, Alaska—July 16-20, 2012
Solar Energy International will offer this course and four other training sessions in Anchorage this summer. Course participants will receive a nationally recognized certificate of completion and 40 credit hours toward the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners certification. These courses (a $1,080 value each) are being offered free of charge for Alaska residents through an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant administered by the Alaska Department of Labor. Travel scholarships are also available. An additional wind turbine installation course will be offered in Hooper Bay in August (date TBD). For more information, contact David Pelunis-Messier, Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council Energy Department, 907-978-1866.
Advancing Wind Power in Illinois
July 17-18, 2012
Register now to attend the conference and hear the latest about large wind farms, community wind, and small wind. The program features plenary sessions, breakout seminars, breakout panel sessions, and exhibitors.
KidWind Wind Senator Training
Bar Harbor, Maine—July 29 - August 4, 2012
The KidWind Project, one of Wind Powering America's Wind for Schools project partners, is offering a week-long Wind Senators training for 25 educators who are interested in teaching and working with other teachers to improve wind energy education in their regions. This training combines learning about wind energy science and teaching about wind in K-12 classrooms using a wide array of curricula and educational materials focused on wind energy. This annual activity will expose educators to the best in K-12 wind energy curricula and is likely the best overall opportunity for K-12 educators to immerse themselves in wind energy. Applications are available.
North American Wind Energy Academy (NAWEA)
Amherst, Massachusetts—August 7-9, 2012
The University of Massachusetts-Amherst is pleased to host the inaugural meeting of the NAWEA. NAWEA is an organization of universities, research laboratories, and industry participants dedicated to coordinating wind energy research and education activities to advance the state of wind energy technology and to develop the next generation of wind energy engineers, researchers, scientists, and innovators in North America. The meeting will provide a mix of presentations and workshops with a strong focus in discussions regarding implementation of the Academy concept. The meeting will end with a signing ceremony around the Academy charter. The registration fee will increase after July 23.
GovEnergy 2012: The Gateway to Smart Energy Solutions
St. Louis, Missouri—August 19-22, 2012
For 15 years, members of the federal energy management community have recognized the value of GovEnergy. This annual training workshop and trade show is designed to address the challenges of federal energy management, helping to foster ideas into action. By bringing together the nation's leading experts in policy, technology, and facility operations, GovEnergy provides responsible, professional-grade education through a variety of learning experiences. We understand that GovEnergy 2012 has been indefinitely postponed, although at the time of publication for this e-newsletter, the GovEnergy website does not reflect this.
American Renewable Energy Day
Aspen, Colorado—August 17-20, 2012
This event features cross-sector dialogue with world leading renewable energy and clean technology experts, as well as the AREDay Expo and Film Festival. Exhibitors include local, state, and national businesses; utilities; and other organizations that incorporate renewable energy technologies and promote cutting-edge energy efficient and green practices, products, and services. All Expo activities are free and open to the public.
Commercial-Scale Wind Projects: Alternative Financing Strategies
Las Vegas, NV—August 27-28, 2012
Electric Utility Consultants Inc. is hosting this event. Industry professionals will discuss their current projects and apply these case studies to best practices for project management that can be used in any region. Also of interest will be discussions around getting maximum return on investment while mitigating risk. Join Vestas, Nevada PUC, NV Energy, the city of Reno, CoBank, and other experts as they discuss avenues for completing these projects in a cost-effective and timely manner.
Northeast Wind Energy Supply Chain Workshop
Portland, Maine—September 4, 2012
This workshop has been created for those who want to learn about current market trends and supply chain opportunities in the wind energy industry. The workshop presenters have toured the world's largest original equipment manufacturers, interviewed wind farm developers and general contractors, and condensed the findings into this focused educational program. The program is geared toward:
- Manufacturers interested in exploring new market opportunities who operate a foundry, forge, machine shop, or fabricating plant
- Manufacturers of power electronics, control systems, hydraulics, composites, fasteners, brakes, blades, nacelles, or supplemental equipment for the wind industry such as ladders, elevators, hoists, and fire-suppression, lighting, or meteorological equipment.
AWEA Regional Wind Energy Summit - New England
Portland, Maine—September 5-6, 2012
Get a comprehensive view of wind energy in the Northeast United States, and delve into the most important present and forecasted issues facing this region's wind energy development. Whether you are already involved in New England wind project development or want to learn more about entering into this region's market the AWEA Regional Wind Energy Summit - New England covers all of the major topics.
North Carolina Wind Energy Supply Chain Workshop
Raleigh, North Carolina—September 18, 2012
This workshop has been created for those who want to learn about current market trends and supply chain opportunities in the wind energy industry. The workshop presenters have toured the world's largest original equipment manufacturers, interviewed wind farm developers and general contractors, and condensed the findings into this focused educational program. The program is geared toward:
- Manufacturers interested in exploring new market opportunities who operate a foundry, forge, machine shop, or fabricating plant
- Manufacturers of power electronics, control systems, hydraulics, composites, fasteners, brakes, blades, nacelles, or supplemental equipment for the wind industry such as ladders, elevators, hoists, and fire-suppression, lighting, or meteorological equipment.
West Virginia Wind Forum
Davis, West Virginia—September 25, 2012
The West Virginia Wind Working Group promotes wind energy development for the benefit of West Virginia and hosts an annual wind forum to examine the barriers to wind energy development and potential solutions for reducing these barriers. Updates on wind energy-related issues around the state are also included in this forum. This event will be informative for electric utility representatives, wind energy developers, utility and environmental regulators, consumers and consumer advocates, environmentalists, and economic development representatives.
Great Lakes Wind Collaborative 5th Annual Meeting
Erie, Pennsylvania—September 25-26, 2012
The Great Lakes Wind Collaborative's 5th Annual Meeting will bring together representatives of U.S. and Canadian federal agencies, state/provincial and local governments, the wind industry, electric utilities, nonprofit organizations, academia, and other interested stakeholders to discuss and address issues regarding the sustainable development of wind energy in the bi-national Great Lakes region.
Kansas Energy Conference
Manhattan, Kansas—September 25-26, 2012
Planned topics include wind, solar, energy efficiency, and biofuels. John Graham, President and CEO of BP Wind Energy, is a featured speaker.
AWEA Offshore WINDPOWER Conference and Exhibition
Virginia Beach, Virginia—October 9-11, 2012
The AWEA OFFSHORE WINDPOWER 2012 Conference & Exhibition brings together exhibitors and attendees from all over the world to this premiere offshore wind event. The conference is one of the prime U.S. focal points for this new and highly promising market, pulling together interested parties from many different technical and deployment-related organizations.
Fifth Annual Nebraska Wind Conference
Lincoln, Nebraska—October 22-23, 2012
This 2-day conference will focus on Nebraska's future wind energy development challenges and opportunities, including the potential extension of the federal Production Tax Credit program and other federal wind incentives. It will include an array of national and state keynote speakers, as well as multiple educational tracks applicable for utilities, suppliers, landowners, economic development officials, students, environmentalists, and anyone interested in the Nebraska wind industry.
National Clean Energy Workforce Education Conference
Albany, New York—November 13-15, 2012
The Clean Energy Workforce Education Conference will bring together the nation's most innovative educators who are training today's clean energy workforce. Over three days, they will offer the latest information and insight on instructional strategies, curricula development, credentialing, and best training practices. Three plenary sessions, more than 60 breakout presentations, and five pre-conference technical workshops will fuel participants with a breadth of facts, ideas, and best instructional models under way at community colleges, technical high schools, skill centers, trades and industry training centers across the country.
NWCC Wind Wildlife Research Meeting
Denver, Colorado—November 27-30, 2012
The National Wind Coordinating Collaborative's biennial Wind Wildlife Research Meeting provides an internationally recognized forum for researchers and wind-wildlife stakeholders to hear contributed papers, view research posters, and listen to panels that synthesize the most recent wind power-related wildlife research. Academics, researchers, conservation scientists, consultants, federal and state officials, NGO representatives, and industry professionals come together for this unique opportunity. This meeting is organized by the NWCC Wildlife Workgroup and presented by the American Wind Wildlife Institute.
Please visit the WPA Events Calendar to learn about more upcoming events.
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