Building the Wind Supply Chain: The Next Steps Workshop July 13

The Illinois Wind Working Group (IWWG) will host a "Building the Wind Turbine Supply Chain: The Next Steps Workshop" on Tuesday, July 13 at the Peoria Civic Center in Peoria, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.  This workshop is hosted by Illinois State University's Center for Renewable Energy and the Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center. 

The workshop program is designed to enable participants to explore opportunities that exist for Illinois manufacturers in the wind turbine supply chain, evaluate their capabilities relative to customer requirements, develop their plan for penetrating the market, and make connections with wind turbine technology customers.

"The goal is to help build a new industry of wind turbine component manufacturers, creating create new jobs and investments throughout Illinois," said David Loomis, director of the Center for Renewable Energy. "This workshop will include designated networking time for small groups of suppliers to make connections with wind turbine manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers."

Workshop speakers include Jeff Anthony of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA); Bob Weinstein and Steve Barnhart of the Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center; David Loomis and Matt Aldeman of the Center for Renewable Energy at Illinois State University; and a panel of U.S. Wind Power Equipment Suppliers. 

The early registration fee is $149 per person through June 24th.  The regular registration fee is $199. The workshop is open to the public and will cover business opportunities in the renewable energy industry. Companies that may benefit from attending include manufacturers of supplemental equipment, machine shops, foundries, and more. For a detailed agenda and to register online for the one-day Supply Chain Workshop, or the two-day Advancing Wind Power in Illinois Conference, call (309) 438-7919 or visit www.renewableenergy.ilstu.edu and click on this workshop in the list of Upcoming Events.

The IWWG will also host its fourth annual "Advancing Wind Power in Illinois Conference" will be held July 14-15, at the Peoria Civic Center in Peoria.  This separate two-day conference will cover many aspects of wind energy including large wind farms, community wind, and small wind.  A separate registration is required, and more details are also available on the website provided above.

IWWG is affiliated with the Department of Energy's Wind Powering America's state Wind Working Groups.  The group is administered by Illinois State'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 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 and through collaborations with other universities.