Mike Manna, General Manager of Milwaukee Machine Works, shares his views on alternative energy

                                

At the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) WINDPOWER 2011 Show in Anaheim, CA, Mike Manna, General Manager of Milwaukee Machine Works shared with Today's Energy Solutions (TES) some thoughts on alternative energy. 

Milwaukee Machine Works has been an Alliance member of Wisconsin Wind Works since 2010.  Find out more about Milwaukee Machine Works, a division of Cleveland Gear, Inc. on their directory listing at the Wisconsin Wind Works Supply Chain Directory. 

Freshwater Wind 2011: Sponsored by Alliance Member Michael Best & Friedrich LLP

Alliance Member Michael Best & Friedrich LLP sponsors the 2nd Annual Freshwater Wind 2011 Conference on Offshore Wind Development in the Great Lakes in Detroit, Michigan on July 18-19th.

Agenda to include a keynote address from Jim Lanard, President of the OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION on Offshore Wind Project Status & Update. Agenda also features panel discussions on 'After the 2010 Elections—Impacts on Energy
Policies and the Role of Freshwater Wind in Economic Development in the Great Lakes Region', 'Progress in Assessing the Environmental Impact of Offshore Wind Development in the Great Lakes' and 'Siting and Permitting in the Great Lakes Region'.  

Conference also will host international and national leaders in offshore wind.  See the full agenda for details.  Register today for this great event sponsored by one of Wisconsin Wind Works' premier Alliance members, Michael Best & Friedrich, LLP.

Wisconsin Wind Works Welcomes New Alliance Member: Orchid Monroe LLC

Orchid Monroe, LLC is the newest member of the Wisconsin Wind Works Alliance, now totaling 23 premier suppliers and manufacturers to Wind Energy in Wisconsin and beyond.  Orchid Monroe LLC, located in Monroe, Wisconsin, specializes in the manufacturing of high quality generator, motor and transformer electrical steel laminations and sub assemblies.

Orchid Monroe, a division of Orchid International, maintains a customer focused plant that drives value into our customer’s products through efficient manufacturing methods and engineering partnerships.

See more on Orchid Monroe on their web site at www.orchidinternational.com/. And, learn more about Orchid on their Wisconsin Wind Works directory listing. 

Keep up to date on all Alliance members on the Wisconsin Wind Works web site and the Wisconsin Wind Works LinkedIn Group.  

Offshore Wind has no significant effect on tourism levels, study shows

A Grand State University study group in West Michigan has researched the proposed effects of offshore wind on tourism only to report no relatively significant effect in the minds of visitors to locations with offshore wind. 

Using existing European offshore wind locations and studying tourism perceptions and change in tourism rates, no significant level of harm or help to tourism was reported. 

This study contradicts expected assumptions of some that offshore wind could cause decreases in tourism within states bordering offshore wind farms, particularly affecting the Great Lakes States which rely heavily on tourism for investment throughout year.  Despite the study, it is believed offshore wind will take years to be realized within the Great Lakes.

Read the full article here.

AWEA Manufacturer's Group Supplier Handbook

From one of our members: 

See links below to a copy of the "Supplier Handbook" recently developed by the AWEA Manufacturing Working Group, along with a MWG policy paper which helps bring clarity and definition to the core policy orientation that the working group has agreed to pursue in upcoming months/years.  The Supplier Handbook serves as a helpful reference for companies and their Tier II suppliers.  The policy paper is intended to succinctly summarize what AWEA's Manufacturer's Group believes is their focused policy agenda  in N. America, and serve as a frame of reference  when companies contact and have local/regional discussions with public officials.

Wisconsin Wind Works acknowledges the individual missions and directions of each Wind Energy business and organization within the Wisconsin Wind Works membership. Wisconsin Wind Works does not support or deny any of the claims within the following alert but offers this information as educational material provided from one of our member companies.  For follow up questions or comments, contact:

	Tom Maves Deputy Director, Manufacturing and Supply Chain American Wind Energy Association   tmaves@awea.org  email 614.670.8961  direct 202.341.8230  cell

AWEA 2011--Wisconsin Wind Works Pavilion

See photos from Wisconsin Wind Works' Pavilion at AWEA WINDPOWER Expo 2011 in Anaheim, California.

GE Healthcare Waiting for Turbine Approval

GE Healthcare is awaiting for approval from the city of Waukesha. GE hopes to install 10 wind turbines up to 155 feet tall on the company's campus on county highway T north of I-94. If the project is approved it would be built next year or later said Annette Busteri, public relations manager. The installation of the turbines is part of GE's 2015 goal of reducing electrical usage by 15 percent and improving energy efficiency by 10 percent.

Jennifer Andrews a Waukesha city planner said, 'The company seems to have all their ducks lined up in a row," while referring to GE's letters indicating that state and federal agencies have no objections.

Concerns arose when GE originally proposed the installation of the turbines given their proximity to the runway's of Waukesha County's airport. These concerns were put aside after the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics provided a letter stating that all 10 of the proposed turbines would be in compliance with airspace height restrictions.

Currently there are no commercial wind turbines in Waukesha County and the project would be a first of its kind. The location of the project will be near highly traveled roads and give it great visibility to highlight GE's renewable energy commitment.