April 8th, 2009 – The Iowa Wind Energy Association (IWEA) held its second annual conference last Thursday, April 2nd, 2009, at the Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville, Iowa. Wind energy has been quickly advancing in Iowa, with a record year in 2008. Now with 2,790 MW of wind energy, Iowa has surpassed California and is ranked second in the nation only to Texas in terms of installed wind capacity.

Many wind industry representatives and developers from several different states gathered at the conference. National Wind and Red Rock Wind Energy representatives in attendance included Jack Levi (co-chair of National Wind), Ben Kerl (senior wind farm developer for National Wind), Al Blum (chair of Red Rock Wind Energy and NorthStar Wind Farms), Lindsey Pelstring (National Wind field specialist), and Kristin Ross (Red Rock Wind Energy founder and field specialist). National Wind and Red Rock Wind Energy also participated as exhibitors.

The conference was an informative, day-long event where issues such as landowner rights, transmission, wind power forecasting, and environmental considerations were discussed. The conference served as a medium for people to exchange ideas about where the industry may be headed and plans to solidify Iowa as a nationwide leader in the future.

Iowa Lakes Community College is preparing students in northern Iowa for continued growth in the wind industry. The college has developed one of the most innovative wind energy training programs in the country and has helped make IWEA the organization it is today. Iowa Lakes held the groundbreaking ceremony of Phase III of the Sustainable Energy Education Center prior to the conference. Ron Litzinger, CEO of Edison Mission Group, presented the company’s $100,000 contribution to the $550,000-addition that will increase the Center by 6,200 square feet. The addition will allow Iowa Lakes to accept 32 additional freshmen students into the program for a total of 102 new students this fall. The huge interest in the college’s wind program will help maintain both the program and the state of Iowa as leaders in wind energy development.