USA - Indiana celebrates “Wind Energy Week” with two wind farm ground breakings and #1 wind power growth rate ranking

As new poll results find overwhelming public support for renewable energy in Indiana, the Hoosier state prepares to celebrate “Wind Energy Week”.

The week will be marked with ground breakings at two new projects: the 200-MW Meadow Lake Wind Farm in White County on Tuesday, April 14, and the 106-MW Hoosier Wind Project in Benton County on Friday, April 17. Indiana is the state that currently boasts the fastest wind power growth rate in the nation on a percentage basis, expanding to 130 MW from zero in 2008, completing an additional 400 MW in the first quarter of 2009, and breaking ground on the two new projects as this second quarter begins.

“It is exciting to see the overwhelming support for renewable energy in Indiana,” said AWEA CEO Denise Bode. “Indiana will benefit from these new wind farms, and is also one of the states that stands to benefit the most from new manufacturing jobs in the wind turbine supply chain. As wind power expands in the country, Indiana could become a hub for the manufacturing of some of the 8,000 components that make up a modern wind turbine.

“What is needed now is a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) to create a long term, U.S.-wide market for capital investment in wind power and spur growth and manufacturing investment in states like Indiana.

The poll released shows broad and deep support for that very policy among all Indianans.”

The survey, conducted by Garin Hart Yang Research Group and released today by the American Wind Energy Association, found that:

- Four-fifths (81%) of Indiana voters FAVOR an RES requiring electric utility companies across the nation to generate at least 15% of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2021, while just 13% are opposed.

- this issue generates real and committed bipartisan support: 95% of Indiana Democrats favor t he RES proposal, as do 78% of independents, and 71% of Republicans.

For an executive summary of the poll, see [http://www.awea.org/newsroom/pdf/Indiana_Poll_Executive_Summary.pdf]
http://www.awea.org/newsroom/pdf/Indiana_Poll_Executive_Summary.pdf.

Over 20 Indiana-based companies will be exhibiting at AWEA’s WINDPOWER 2009 Conference & Exhibition in Chicago from May 4-7, including companies such as Ambassador Steel Corporation, Bedford Machine & Tool, Bowen Engineering, Carlisle Industrial Brake & Friction, and White Construction.

For agenda, exhibitor and other information, visit the WINDPOWER 2009 web site at [http://www.windpowerexpo.org] www.windpowerexpo.org. For media accreditation information, see [http://www.windpowerexpo.org/press_media.cfm]
http://www.windpowerexpo.org/press_media.cfm .

Following “Wind Energy Week,” a Northeast Indiana Wind Energy Supply Chain Workshop will be held on Wednesday, April 22 at Grand Wayne Center in Fort Wayne, IN.

For details, visit: [http://www.neigbc.org/Wind_Workshop.html]
http://www.neigbc.org/Wind_Workshop.html.

About the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA):
AWEA is the national trade association of America’s wind industry, with more than 1,900 member companies, including global leaders in wind power and energy development, wind turbine manufacturing, component and service suppliers, and the world’s largest wind power trade show. AWEA is the voice of wind energy in the U.S., promoting renewable energy to power a cleaner, stronger America. Look up information on wind energy at the AWEA Web site. Find insight on industry issues at AWEA’s blog Into the Wind.

For more information please contact Trevor Sievert at ts@windfair.net