June 29, 2011

 

Seventh Annual Small Wind Conference a Huge Success!

 

by Mick Sagrillo

Once again, the Small Wind Conference has lived up to its reputation as the premier small wind event in the United States, with people attending from all across the United States, as well as Mexico, Canada, Panama, France, and Uganda.

The conference, coordinated by the Small Wind Conference Coordinating Committee and organized by Windustry from Minneapolis, began on Monday with two workshops: Fundamentals of Wind and Small Wind Permitting and Zoning.  Monday evening’s social in the Exhibition Hall featured attendees building model wind turbine rotors and competing against each other in the KidWind wind tunnel.

Tuesday began with a keynote address by Randy Udall, Energy Consultant from Colorado. Following Randy’s excellent analysis of the current state of renewable energy in the United States, 46 presenters delved into a variety of issues of interest to wind installers, from wind resource assessment and siting lessons to legal and insurance issues to turbine testing and results.  The Distributed Wind Energy Association made its debut at the end of the day, unveiling opportunities for the small wind industry to get involved in its own trade organization.  Tuesday’s culmination was a BBQ at the Midwest Renewable Energy Association sponsored by Bergey Windpower of Oklahoma.

Day two began with a breakfast for the Women of Wind Energy, who have started a new chapter called Women of Small Wind Energy.  Wednesday featured more presentations, punctuated by the annual small wind awards ceremony.

This year’s Small Wind Advocate Award went to Mark Mayhew, of NYSERDA in New York, “for his enthusiasm, dedication, advocacy, and outstanding work in the small wind industry.”  Mayhew and NYSERDA were lauded for their achievements in small wind program development and administration of a performance-based incentive program, heralded as a shining example of a public benefits program that advances the industry.

The Small Wind Installer Award went to Seventh Generation Energy Systems of Madison, Wisconsin, for all the work they have done to advance the interests of small wind in Wisconsin and the Midwest.  What started as a one-person company has developed into one of the nation’s most successful small wind installation, consulting, and advocacy businesses.   Awards included the token (but gigantic) wrench, the symbol of all small wind installers and advocates.

This year saw 17 sponsors help offset the cost of the Small Wind Conference.   A record 26 exhibitors, from manufacturers to component suppliers to consultants and site assessors, answered questions about their businesses from attendees. Our sincerest appreciation goes out to all sponsors and exhibitors for helping to make the conference the success that it was. The participants enjoyed a networking and educational event second to none in the small wind world.

This year’s poster session featured seven presentations ranging from wind energy education to wind assessment techniques to new developments in small wind technology.

In addition to the two-day Small Wind Conference, a flurry of other events took place during the conference week.   Thursday morning, the Distributed Wind Energy Association held its first meeting open to the public, discussing organization development issues as well as opportunities for attendees to advance policies to help further the interests of the small wind industry.   The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) convened a group of small wind experts to begin development of a Small Wind Site Assessor Resource Guide.  And a group of industry stakeholders gathered to begin consideration of a standard for mid-sized wind turbines.

Finally, the Midwest Renewable Energy Association’s 22^nd Energy Fair, the largest renewable energy and sustainable living event on the planet, educated and entertained all for the long weekend after the Small Wind Conference.

Small Wind Conference Award Recipients

 

 

Small Wind Conference Awards Committee members Roy Butler (L), Trudy Forsyth, and Mick Sagrillo (R) present the Small Wind Advocate Award to Mark Mayhew, NYSERDA’s RPS Customer-sited Tier On-site Wind Manager, in recognition for his enthusiasm, dedication, advocacy, and contributions to the small wind industry.  NYSERDA was recognized for its achievements in small wind program development and administration.

Trudy Forsyth (L) and Roy Butler (R) present the Small Wind Installer Award to Seventh Generation  Energy Systems.  Left to right are Mike Bernhard, Ry Thompson, Mike Stocking, Dave Kiedrowski, and Jim Yockey of Seventh Generation Energy Systems.

The Small Wind Conference Coordinating Committee would like thank all who exhibited, participated, and helped with the event, especially our sponsors which included:

Bergey WindPower

Gaia-Wind

Endurance Wind Power

Valmont-Newmark

Focus on Energy

Distributed Wind Energy Association

North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners

Home Power

APRS World

Etesian Technologies

Proven Energy

MC Energy

American Wind Energy Association

Wind Turbine Industries Corp.

Midwest Renewable Energy Association

We would especially like to thank Windustry for their work choreographing the conference logistics and providing outstanding support for the conference.

Plans for next year’s Small Wind Conference at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Stevens Point, Wisconsin are being developed now. Keep your calendar open for Monday to Wednesday, June 11-13, 2012.

The Small Wind Conference Coordinating Committee includes:

Roy Butler

Trudy Forsyth

Jenny Heinzen

Mick Sagrillo

Brent Summerville

Ian Woofenden