Wisconsin Wind Works Alliance Member Gearbox Express to speak at National Wind Energy Summit

Bruce Neumiller, founding partner and CEO of Gearbox Express and Alliance Member of Wisconsin Wind Works, will be a participating panelist during a tracked session at Wind Energy Update’s O&M Summit at the Marriott City Center in Dallas, April 25 – 27, 2012.  


In a recent press release from Gearbox Express, Neumiller shares his excitement for the upcoming Summit. 


“Our team at Gearbox Express has grown up in the industry and has literally rebuilt
thousands of gearboxes across many markets,” Neumiller said. “We consider ourselves a
partner with owners and operators, helping them get the most operational life out of their
assets. It’s in our DNA to see and solve challenges. We are looking forward to sharing our
insights and experience as part of this exciting panel at the O&M Summit.”


Learn more about Gearbox Express on their web site. 

Composites Consortium Upcoming Meeting at Winona State Univ. - Opportunity

Photo Courtesy of Wausaukee Composites

7Rivers Alliance, a regional economic development organization of the Lacrosse, WI region is partnering with Winona State University (WSU) to host an upcoming session on new changes to the WSU's composite materials engineering program.  Winona State hosts the only undergraduate program in composite engineering in the country. 

This developing consortium, named the Composites Consortium, has formed to develop and grow opportunities in composite manufacturing.  Wisconsin Wind Works has encouraged all members operating in composite manufacturing and plastics to participate. 

See information below on the meeting and RSVP to the link below:

The Composites Consortium, centered in Winona, MN, is extending an invitation to all composite companies to their Thursday, March 22, 2012 meeting at Winona State University. The meeting will focus on new changes to WSU’s composites materials engineering program (the only undergraduate program in the U.S.) and tour the Composite Materials Technology Center (COMTEC) that uses WSU student to advance composite materials research. It will also include some next-steps for joint ventures including bulk-purchasing of composites supplies. For more information go to: http://composites312-NN.eventbrite.com

Great Lakes Wind Can Invigorate Wisconsin’s Economy

Photo courtesy of Ocean Power Magazine

A recent press release from the Sierra Club details the promise of new jobs and investment offshore wind energy development could bring to Wisconsin.  Leaders and suppliers of wind energy met Wednesday, Feb. 8th to discuss the opportunities offshore wind energy can offer and strategies towards attracting offshore development to Great Lakes near Wisconsin. 

Within the release, Mary Ann Christopher, partner at Michael Best & Friedrich, a Wisconsin Wind Works Alliance member, explains the potential offshore wind offers.  

“Great opportunities await Wisconsin in the form of an incredible natural resource – the winds of Lake Michigan right here on our shores,” explains Christopher, also member of the Great Lakes Wind Collaborative. “Europe and Asia are leading the way with almost 4,000 MW of off-shore wind in operation and almost 6,000 MW more under construction. Wisconsin can follow suit, bringing jobs, investments, and clean energy home by developing offshore wind in the Great Lakes.”

Read the full release and connect with RENEW Wisconsin, who hosted the event, at www.renewwisconsin.org. 

Wisconsin Wind Works to Exhibit at AWEA Midwest Regional Wind Energy Summit in March 2012

Wisconsin Wind Works to partner with Lakeshore Technical College to exhibit at the upcoming AWEA Midwest Regional Wind Energy Summit on March 6th-7th in Chicago, IL at the Fairmount Chicago in Millennium Park.

The Summit will highlight the strong wind market of the Midwest.  AWEA names the Midwest region the anchor for the entire U.S. Wind Energy industry, reporting "over 43,600 MWs of wind capacity installed in the U.S. through October 2011, over 14,600 MWs were installed in Midwestern states - that's over 30% of total installed capacity."

Attendees to the Summit can expect to learn about and discuss critical Midwest Wind Energy issues in these sessions:

- Keynote Session: Wind Industry Leaders Roundtable
- Midwest Wind Energy Market Assessment
- Transmission Opportunities and Issues in the Midwest
- Siting and Wildlife Issues
- Wind Power as a Manufacturing Growth Engine in the Midwest
- Community Relations and Local Acceptance in Sub-Regional Markets
- Key Wind Power Issues Facing Utilities in the Midwest

SPEAKER HIGHLIGHTS:
Program Co-Chairs:
- Andy Cukurs, Chief Executive Officer, Suzlon Wind Energy Corporation
- John Eber, Managing Director, Energy Investments, JP Morgan

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS:
- Michelle Arenson, Director, Wind Energy Development, Alliant Energy
- Christina Calabrese, Environmental Manager, EDPR
- Ashley Craig, Environmental Business Specialist, Environmental Law & Policy Center
- Chuck Conlen, Director, Business Development, DTE Energy
- Jered Diebold, Sales Manager, Ingeteam
- Rhett Good, Project Manager, Research Biologist, WEST, Inc.
- Ben Hoen, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Ben Kelahan, Partner, Five Corners Strategies, LLC
- Andy Kellen, WPPI Energy
- Robert Kenney, Commissioner, Organization of MISO States
- Karl Kosciuch, Senior Biologist, TetraTech
- Martin Lubahn, Sales Manager, Winergy
- Bill McNeil, VP Energy Acquisition, ComEd
- Aaron Peterson, Community Relations & Regulatory Affairs Manager, Juwi Wind
- John Purcell, Vice President, Wind Energy, Leeco Steel
- Laura Rauch, Senior Engineer, Transmission Strategy Department, Midwest ISO
- Tim Rosenzweig, Chief Executive Officer, Goldwind
- Melissa Seymour, Director, Regional Markets & Regulation, Iberdrola Renewables
- Dan Shreve, MAKE Consulting
- Susan Sloan, Director, State Policy, American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)
- Beth Soholt, Executive Director, Wind on the Wires
- Kim Zuhlke, Consultant, AWEA
 

Wisconsin Wind Works and Lakeshore Technical College look forward to seeing you at the booth in March in Chicago, IL.  Register today by clicking here: http://www.awea.org/events/AWEA-Midwest-Wind-Energy-Markets-Seminar-2012.cfm#fragment-2

Wisconsin Wind Works Alliance Member Helical Robotics, launches new Robotic Platform

Helical Robotics, Wisconsin Wind Works Alliance member since early 2011, has announced the launch of a new mobile robotic platform  that has the ability to effortlessly navigate almost any ferromagnetic surface.  Based in Oregon, Wisconsin, Helical specializes in creating unique robotic platforms that has the ability to conform to any solid surface and travel in any direction.  The primary usage of the platforms is servicing wind turbines, as the unique design can navigate along a wind tower or airfoil for servicing.  

The launch of the HR-1000LL mobile robotic platform released this week offers multi-directional potential and increased carrying and lifting capacity, allowing for greater capacity to service wind towers.  The platform can assist inspection, repair and cleaning of wind towers. 

Read more on the new platform in the company's press release and at www.helicalrobotics.com.  And, see a video of the HR-1000LL platform in action. 

Alliance Member ABB Announces New Order for Electrical Equipment for 2 Texas Wind Farms

Wisconsin Wind Works Alliance Member ABB announced Thursday January 5th a new $50 million dollar order from Electric Transmission Texas LLC (ETT) to provide electrical equipment to two Texas wind farms that will enhance the existing transmission grid.  

North American Wind Power magazine reports that "ABB will design, supply, install and commission four static VAR compensators (SVCs) at two sites."

In a company press release, Peter Leupp, head of ABB's Power Systems division, explains that “ABB has a strong track record of delivering environmentally friendly SVC solutions around the world and we have a large installed base in the US."  

Expected to be complete by 2013, ABB will begin work soon.  "We are pleased to support the grid integration of clean wind power and help improve power reliability in the region.” Leupp reported in the company press release. 

With locations in Wisconsin and around the world, ABB has been a Wisconsin Wind Works Alliance member since the beginning of 2010.  Read the full press release at ABB.com.   

Developers Apply to Build Western Wisconsin Large Wind Farm

This week developers Emerging Energies submitted permitting applications to the Public Service (PSC) Commission to built a large wind farm in Western Wisconsin.  The 41-turbine, 102.5 - megawatt project in the St. Croix County towns of Forest and Cylon is the first application to the PSC in more than two years. 

William Rakocy, founding member of Emerging Energies, based in Hubertus, WI, reports in a recent article in the Wisconsin State Journal highlighting the development plans that the company is confident about the project. 

Current conversations are being held within the PSC on siting rules for wind farms in Wisconsin, and this application could offer some clarity into the direction of these conversations. 

According to formal process of submitting applications, the PSC has 30 days to consider if the application is complete, then 360 days to make a decision. 

Wisconsin Wind Works will be following the process closely.  Read the full article in the Wisconsin State Journal.