Advancing Wind Power in Illinois Conference July 15-16

The Illinois Wind Working Group (IWWG) will host the third annual Advancing Wind Power in Illinois Conference, July 15-16, at the Interstate Center in Bloomington.  The conference is made possible through a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy and is designed by the IWWG, which consists of 130 key wind energy stakeholders in Illinois and is administered by Illinois State University's Center for Renewable Energy.

The two-day conference will cover many aspects of wind energy including small wind, community wind, and large wind farms.  Sessions will include wind assessment methods, economic development, sizing and zoning, net metering, construction issues, wind farms and aerial application, wind for schools, how manufacturers can join the supply chain, wildlife and environmental issues and jobs in the wind energy industry.

"By the time of the conference, we will have passed the first 1,000 megawatt mark for wind energy in Illinois, and interest in this industry keeps growing around the state," said David Loomis, director of the Center for Renewable Energy.  "To address this need for current information on the industry, the conference brings to Illinois nationally recognized experts and local policymakers to discuss wind energy."

Plenary speakers include Hans Detweiler of the American Wind Energy Association, Gary Nowakowski of the U.S. Department of Energy, and Larry Flowers of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.  Within eight breakout seminars and 14 panel sessions, 50 additional speakers will share their expertise in a variety of important areas of wind energy.

The conference is open to the public and will be of special interest to landowners interested in wind turbines or leasing their land, county board members, zoning board administrators, wind development companies, elected officials, policy makers, environmental groups, economic development officials, contractors, manufacturers and schools and universities interested in wind energy.

The cost to attend the full two-day conference is $60 per person for early registration. The rate will change to $75 after July 4.  An optional wind farm tour and dinner are also offered for an additional $25.  To register, or for more detailed information on this conference or the IWWG, please visit www.renewableenergy.ilstu.edu/wind/conferences/ or call 309-438-7919.

Conference sponsors include the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, Acciona Energy, Horizon Wind Energy, Iberdrola Renewables, TradeWind Energy, EcoEnergy, Illinois Farm Bureau, Johnson & Bell, and Natural Resources Consulting.

The IWWG is affiliated with the Department of Energy's Wind Powering America's state Wind Working Groups.  The group is administered by Illinois State University's Center for Renewable Energy consisting of David Loomis (Economics), David Kennell (Technology), and Randy Winter (Agriculture). The IWWG is designed to communicate wind opportunities honestly and objectively; interact with various stakeholders at the local, state, regional, and national levels; and promote economic development of wind energy in the state of Illinois. 

The Center for Renewable Energy at Illinois State University was approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education in August, 2008.  The Center has three major functional areas: supporting the renewable energy major at Illinois State University; serving the Illinois renewable energy community by providing information to the public; and encouraging applied research on renewable energy at Illinois State University and through collaborations with other universities.