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Big Crowd Expected For Wind Power Conference

July 23, 2009

(Indianapolis)—The second annual WIndiana conference opens Tuesday, July 21 at the Indianapolis Convention Center. The 2-day conference focuses on wind resources in Indiana for both utility level wind development, urban or smaller wind power, helping Indiana manufacturers enter or expand their presence in the wind industry supply chain, and what the future holds for the wind industry in the state. Both Governor Mitch Daniels and Lt. Governor Becky Skillman are addressing the conference.

Along with general sessions, WIndiana includes two separate tracks, Wind Resources and Indiana’s Wind Supply Chain. The three supply chain sessions will include topics such as Indiana Site Selection for Manufacturing Opportunities, Supply Chain Basics, and Supply Chain Nuts and Bolts.

Among the companies providing panelists for these sessions:
Chad Sweeney, Ginovus
John Alexander, Schneider Engineering
Rich Cooper, Ports of Indiana
Kristie McKillip, The Indy Partnership
Matt Conrad, Krieg Devault LLP
Keith Bucklew, Indiana Department of Transportation
Paul Mitchell, Energy Systems Network
Kristina Tridico, Ice Miller LLP
Maria Steyn, Emerson Power Transmission Corporation
Oliver Viehweider, VAT Getriebetechnik
John W. Strickland, Fairfield Manufacturing
David Neal, ATI Casting Services
Jacopo Tozzi, Brevini Wind Power
Bill Brown, Long Products, Steel Dynamics, Inc.
Scott Eberle, Carlisle Industrial Brake and Friction

Along with Governor Daniels, Andy Karsner will deliver a keynote address during lunch on the conference’s first day. Mr. Karsner is a former Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy with the U.S. Department of Energy. Karsner is currently on the board of directors of Argonne National Laboratory, Conservation International and Applied Materials. Lt. Governor Skillman will give a “State of Indiana’s Wind Industry” address to open the conference Tuesday.

Other speakers include Marguerite Kelly from the US. Department of Energy National Wind Technology Center, John Dunlop of the American Wind energy Association, Gene Cuenot of wind turbine maker Vestas, and Jacopo Tozzi of Brevini Wind Power. A full conference agenda is available at the OED Web site, www.energy.IN.gov.

The American Wind Energy Association has ranked Indiana as the fastest-growing state for wind energy in 2008 and by the end of 2009, Indiana is on track for growth this year of more than 600%, which would again lead the nation. Indiana is on track to have 5,000 MW of wind capacity by 2013 and Indiana has thus far made good use of its endowments, and its current installed wind power capacity ranks it 14th among states.

Indiana is ranked sixth in the nation for manufacturing job creation in the wind industry. There are 45,794 Hoosiers working in jobs directly related to the renewable energy industry, generating $11.17 Billion in annual output, which is over 2 percent of Indiana’s total output.

WIndiana is hosted by the Indiana Office of Energy Development and Purdue Discovery Park for the Indiana Wind Working Group. 600 people are expected to attend the conference. Along with work sessions, the WIndiana exhibition area includes over 50 exhibitors from a variety of vendors and organizations from across the country. On the second day of the conference, attendees will have the opportunity to take a bus tour of the Fowler Ridge Wind Farm in Benton County, or tour the small wind facility that has just been installed at the Normandy Barn located on the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis.

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The Office of Energy Development (OED) was created in December 2005 as an extension of the Indiana energy office. Under the leadership of Lt. Governor Becky Skillman, OED is responsible for the state’s energy policy. For more information visit www.energy.in.gov.

For updates from the Lt. Governor and the agencies she oversees, please sign up at www.in.gov/lg/

Source: Indiana Office of Energy Development

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