SECOND ANNUAL IWEA MEETING HELD AT
IOWA LAKES COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S
ESTHERVILLE CAMPUS
The second annual meeting and conference
for the Iowa Wind Energy Association (IWEA)
was held in Estherville on Thursday,
April 2, at Iowa Lakes Community College
with keynote speakers John Dunlop and E.
Ian Baring-Gould.
The goal of this meeting was to bring
together a host of wind energy experts
to promote the value of increased use of
wind energy in the State of Iowa and to
elect new officers.
Those in attendance were wind energy
companies, wind developers, agricultural
landowners, large and small scale wind
farm producers, construction companies,
energy companies, educators and
students.
Following the registration, guests at
the business meeting were welcomed by
IWEA President Dr. Harold Prior.
Reports were given by committee chair
members.
The business meeting then concluded with
the election of directors, led by chair
Tom Ellenbecker.
Newly elected directors are: Michael
Moore, Enlightened Management; Eric
Wittrock, GMT Corporation, Terry Bailey,
Pottawattamie County Growth Alliance;
Kathleen Law, Neymaster Goode Law Firm;
Phil Sundblad, Crosswind Energy.
The morning panel focused on “Deployment
and Development.” Randy Van Dyke, Vice
President of IWEA and CEO of Iowa Lakes
Regional Water, led the group which
includes Scott Buchanan, an Attorney
with the firm of Buchanan, Bibler, Gabor
and Meis who specializes in wind issues;
Joe Rubino, a Senior Environmental
Scientist with Stanley Consultants,
Inc.; Thomas Wind, owner of Wind Energy
Consulting PC; and John Bilsten, the
General Manager of Algona Municipal
Utilities.
Dr. Jim McCalley of Iowa State
University led the afternoon open forum
entitled “System Integration.”
Panelists included: Doug Collins,
Executive Director of ITC Midwest; Joe
Sullivan, Product Manager of WindLogics;
Adrian LaTrace, Vice President and
General Manager of Acciona Windpower
North America; and, Mike Tramotina,
Director of the Iowa Department of
Economic Development.
The day wrapped up with remarks from the
President of IWEA, Dr. Harold Prior.
Organizers arranged the conference to
allow time for attendees to speak with
the experts following their sessions.
In addition, several conference sponsors
had informational booths. Conference
sponsors included Alliant Energy;
Anemometry Specialists; Hartwig Inc.;
Iowa Lakes Corridor Development
Corporation; ITC; Mid-West Tech, Inc.;
SOS Staffing; and, The Green Business &
Sustainability Law Group at Dickinson,
Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C.
For more information on the Iowa Wind
Energy Association, call Angie De Jong
at (712) 362-7931 or visit the
association’s Web site at
www.IowaWindEnergy.org.
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Dr.
Harold Prior and committee
members |
