Great Attendnce for the August Wind Power Happy Hour at Capital Brewery

Photo: Deborah Erwin from the Wisconsin Public Service Commission and Mike Ross from American Superconductor at Capital Brewery in Middleton, Wisconsin.

In what turned out to be one of our most well attended events of the year, more than 60 people attended the August Wind Power Happy Hour to sample some of Capital Brewery's finest offerings, sit in the Bier Garten on one of the nicest days of the summer, and to hear from a couple of great presenters.

Mike Ross, Sr. Engineer for American Superconductor in Middleton, Wisconsin was the company spotlight for this meeting. He provided an overview of three key aspects of AMSC's products: Windtec technology, superconducting cables, and the SeaTitan--a 10 MW wind turbine being developed for off shore purposes. Mike also shared that AMSC recently acquired an ownership stake in Blade Dynamics, a designer and manufacturer of advanced wind turbine blades based on proprietary materials and structural technologies.

Deborah Erwin is the Docket Manager for the Public Service Commission and the Wind Siting Council that has been developing rules for wind farms under 100 MW in Wisconsin. Its been a tough job, but she reported they are almost ready to be sent to the Legislature for approval. Click here to see a current copy of the proposed Wind Siting rules and the press release issued by the PSC on their completion of their efforts.

Special thanks to Capital Brewery for their hospitality, and for letting us use the Bier Stube for our event.

July 2010 Wind Power Happy Hour Recap

Photo: John Wilson from Michael Best & Freidrich, Jay Koenitzer from Helwig Carbon, and Finian Flood from Wisconsin Wind Works.

The first Wind Power Happy Hour in the Milwaukee region was a great success. About 40 people attended the event at Country Springs Hotel in Pewuakee. Special thanks to John Wilson from Michael Best & Freidrich for his July presentation on the need for a national RPS. Our company spotlight in July focused on Jay Koenitzer and Helwig Carbon. Helwig Carbon manufactures carbon brushes, brushholders, constant force spring assemblies, mechanical carbons, quick disconnect terminals & mounts, and sliding contacts.

Additional thanks to Michael Best & Freidrich and to Finian Flood for sponsoring the event.

Madison's RMT Selected for Wind Energy Facility in Hawaii (RMT)

RMT, Inc. (RMT) has been selected by First Wind for engineering and construction of its Kahuku Wind energy facility located on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. Construction has commenced on the 30-MW project and is expected to be complete by the end of this year.

“After RMT built our Milford, Utah, wind farm last year, we knew we'd be working with them again,” explains Michael Alvarez, First Wind President and Chief Financial Officer. “They have proven that they can handle the challenging engineering and construction issues to keep our projects on schedule and within budget.”

RMT will be providing engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) to support the installation of 12 Clipper Liberty 2.5-MW wind turbines. The civil infrastructure will include roads, crane walks and pads, and turbine foundations. RMT will also design and construct the electrical infrastructure, including a 23-kV underground collector system and a 23/46-kV step-up substation. RMT is also responsible for tower erection and construction of a 7,000-square-foot operations and maintenance building.

Click here for the full press release from RMT, Inc.

Wind power might require a costly grid expansion (JSOnline.com)

The Midwest could be crisscrossed with a new network of high voltage power lines to move wind-generated power from the windiest spots in the Dakotas, Iowa and Minnesota.
A group of utilities in 11 states, including Pewaukee-based American Transmission Co., is studying three alternatives, each of which would cost at least $23 billion over the next 20 years.
What's unclear: How much it will end up costing for Wisconsin's share of the projects. A more detailed analysis has been launched to help determine what the payoff could be in savings from increasing the flow of low-cost power around the region.

Click here for the article from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel online.

The Wind Power Happy Heads to the Milwaukee Region on 7/28

The Sun Prairie Office of Economic Development in partnership with the Wisconsin Wind Works Alliance is hosting another "Wind Power Happy Hour" as an informational, social event aimed at bringing Wind professionals together for interesting discussion and making good connections!

This month’s event, will be held in Pewaukee on Wednesday, July 28th at 4:30pm. The events deliver a concise presentation on a current, interesting wind energy topic followed by a focused presentation from a featured company. The topic speech will extend about 20 minutes and the company presentation about 15 minutes. Then enjoy an extended social networking session with industry colleagues in a relaxed atmosphere.

Event Information

What: Wind Power Happy Hour

When: Wednesday, July 28th, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. (Presentations at 5:00 p.m)
Where: Country Springs Hotel
2810 Golf Road
Pewaukee, WI - (262) 547-0201
http://www.countryspringshotel.com/

Speakers/Topics:

Industry Topic - Considerations involved around Wind Regulatory and Siting Laws
Presented by: John Wilson - Michael Best & Friedrich, LLP.

Company Spotlight - Helwig Carbon Products, Inc.
Presented by: Jay Koenitzer, Vice President of Marketing

Cost: Free. Drinks Sponsored by Michael Best & Friedrich, LLP

RSVP: Please RSVP by clicking here:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dEJBb1ZyaEFYcTBsQzU2TFgyeWlOYWc6MQ

Questions can be directed to Neil Stechschulte, Sun Prairie Office of Economic Development nstechschulte[at]cityofsunpraririe.com or (608) 825-0894.

Winds Shift for Wisconsin Company (U.S. Department of Energy)

A wind turbine parts facility in Cuba City, Wis., is getting another chance after shutting down twice and laying off employees over the last two years.

The Wausaukee Composites, Inc. facility will reopen its doors this fall, thanks to new orders from international wind turbine companies that will keep production going into 2012 and beyond. A 48C Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit worth over $900,000 will help the company expand the facility to meet the demands, doubling its former production capability rate.

The federal tax credit, available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will help alleviate some expansion costs, which are estimated at approximately $5 million. The upgrades are set to begin mid 2011.

Click here for the full article from the U.S. Department of Energy.

New wind turbine powers up in Evansville (Madison.com)

A new wind turbine on the grounds of Evansville’s wastewater treatment plant could be providing some of the power used to run the plant.

Installed July 1, the wind turbine is expected to generate as much as 125,000 kilowatt hours a year, enough for the equivalent usage of 12 to 15 average homes.

The turbine does not send power directly to the water treatment plant; it is hooked into the electric transmission grid that sends power around the state, Evansville Mayor Sandy Decker said.

WPPI Energy, in which Evansville Water & Light is a member, paid the city $257,400 to buy the turbine’s electricity, based on 13 years of projected output. WPPI also provided a $25,000 renewable energy grant, and Focus on Energy gave the city a $150,000 grant. The city of Evansville paid the remaining $161,600 of the $594,000 project cost.

Source: Wisconsin State Journal