USA - Wind energy forum to be held at Miller

Touchstone Energy Cooperatives in eastern South Dakota, including Dakota Energy Cooperative, Inc., is inviting electric cooperative members to learn about the opportunities and challenges of wind power. The forum, titled "Wind & the Cooperative Power Supply," will be hosted in Miller on Tuesday, Aug. 30, at 7 p.m. at the Miller High School Theatre. The panel of presenters will include a list of top wind energy experts. The forum will feature national, state and local perspectives on the viability of this renewable energy resource for generating electricity; and now it fits with the local cooperative, said Manager Robert D. Rademacher. "With South Dakota having one of the best wind resources in the nation, we get many questions from our members on this renewable resource," Manager Rademacher said. "To help answer our members' questions about wind issues, local Dakota Energy and Touchstone Energy Cooperatives decided to schedule this forum and to assemble an expert panel. Co-op members and landowners are invited to attend the forum to hear the latest efforts of electric cooperatives to cost-effectively and safely harness the power of the wind."

The national perspective will be provided by Susan Pettit of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. The national legislation expert will talk about a Clean Energy Bond bill, renewable portfolio standards and other energy/wind issues pending before Congress. A wind industry perspective will be offered by John DiDonato, a wind farm developer for FPL Energy. DiDonato supervised the construction of the Hyde County Wind Energy Center near Highmore, S.D. and the North Dakota Wind Energy Center near Edgeley. These are the largest wind farms in the Dakotas. The output of the 40-megawatt Highmore and Edgeley wind farms is purchased by Basin Electric Power Cooperative for serving distribution cooperatives and their members in the region. Basin Electric executives will address the power supplier's growing need for energy, cost of wind generation, power supply and transmission issues.

The forum is sponsored by Dakota Energy and Touchstone Energy Cooperatives in eastern South Dakota, which provide retail electricity to more than 75,000 homes and businesses in 41 counties. These distribution cooperatives belong to an alliance of more than 600 Touchstone Energy Cooperatives in 44 states, delivering energy and energy solutions with integrity, accountability, innovation and commitment to community.