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WIndiana, Indiana’s only statewide wind power conference, taking place July 21 and 22, will concentrate on better integrating wind with the power grid and includes talks on topics ranging from big wind farms to wind power for individual homes or small communities.
WIndiana 2010 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis will bring together experts from industry and government to address key issues in wind power. The conference is organized by the Indiana Office of Energy Development and the Energy Center at Purdue University’s Discovery Park.
The conference, which is in its third year, has expanded to include three tracks focusing on “big wind” – or utility-scale wind generation – small-scale wind generation for communities and individuals, and Indiana’s wind industry supply chain.
“Indiana’s wind industry continues to grow,” said Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman, who will deliver a keynote address. “As more wind farms are built, as smaller wind facilities are installed, as more wind manufacturing supply chain jobs are created, we must understand how it all works together towards Indiana’s energy and economic future.”
Indiana has gone from no turbines to more than 1,100 in two and a half years and is ranked the third fastest-growing state for wind power in the country, according to the American Wind Energy Association. The association ranks Indiana 13th for most installed wind power capacity in the country.
Indiana has five privately developed wind farms that generate a total of more than 1,000 megawatts, compared to about 23,500 megawatts of generating capacity for utilities in Indiana, primarily from coal. Wind farms now online in Indiana can power the equivalent of more than 250,000 homes. A sixth wind farm facility is under construction, and several others are proposed.
“In addition to the farms themselves, 11 Hoosier companies manufacture wind turbine components,” said Brandon Seitz, director of the state Office of Energy Development. “These companies employ about 1,000 people.”
Conference registration will be 7-8 a.m. the first day and 7:30-8:30 a.m. on the second day. Those interested in registering early may do so here.
Registration for the conference is $100 per person before July 1 and $125 after. More information is available at http://www.energy.IN.gov
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