by Britton Rife | Jun 9, 2016 | News
U.S. Department of Energy Announces Partnership with DWEA to Support Wind for Schools Program
May 23, 2016
The Wind Program announced that the Distributed Wind Energy Association (DWEA) has been selected as a partner to support the long-term sustainability of the Wind for Schools program. The selection is part of a broader effort by the Department to support the growth of the Wind for Schools network and diversify sources of funding to allow for more schools nationwide to be able to participate in the program. Over the course of nine months, DWEA’s project team will work with the existing Wind for Schools participants to further the initiative’s mission of bringing wind education to the classroom through experiential learning. The selection was announced at The Department’s Wind Workforce Development and Education Summit held in New Orleans, Louisiana, May 22nd–23rd.
Wind for Schools currently supports a network of rural K-12 public schools and higher education institutions in Alaska, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Arizona, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and North Carolina. Each K-12 school hosts a wind turbine, with installation and curriculum supported by students and faculty working with a Wind Application Center at a partner university in their state. The K-12 host school incorporates their school’s wind turbine into their classroom as a way to support interactive and interschool research tasks that inspire and demonstrate novel approaches to teach science and involve K-12 students in their communities. Students at higher education institutions are also engaged as they serve as project consultants at the Wind Application Centers. DWEA’s partnership in Wind for Schools will support the existing Wind Application Centers as well as help to make connections with industry and help additional states, universities and schools to join.
Subscribe to the WINDExchange’s newsletter, which goes out every other week to receive regular updates and announcements from the DWEA Wind for Schools Sustainability Plan development team.
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy accelerates development and deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and market-based solutions that strengthen U.S. energy security, environmental quality, and economic vitality. Go to wind.energy.gov to learn more about our Wind Power Program’s funding opportunities and efforts to develop innovative technologies capable of generating renewable, environmentally friendly, cost-competitive electricity from wind resources. To learn more about the WINDExchange’s Wind for Schools program, view the Wind for Schools website.
by Britton Rife | May 12, 2016 | News
SMART Wind Roadmap pinpoints top actions to innovate and boost U.S.-led distributed wind manufacturing
May 11, 2016
DWEA and Sustainable Manufacturing, Advanced Research & Technology (SMART) Wind Consortium publish shared-vision Roadmap of key strategies to reduce lifecycle costs, maintain high quality, and expand production volumes
Virtual Briefing to be hosted by DWEA in Partnership with WINDExchange
3-4:30 p.m. ET May 18
Durango, CO – After 2 years of gathering stakeholder input and reaching industry and academic consensus, production of the SMART Wind Roadmap is now complete. Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Advanced Manufacturing Technology Consortia program, the Distributed Wind Energy Association (DWEA) convened the SMART Wind Consortium to identify industry-wide research and manufacturing gaps and barriers, prioritize solutions to those gaps for today and for future scalability, and facilitate a rapid transfer of innovation into American manufactured wind turbines.
“Collaborating and partnering on these critical actions will help U.S. manufacturers drive down costs, innovate, scale, and remain global leaders in expanding deployment of micro wind turbines worldwide,” said Primus Wind Power CEO Randy Brodsky. “This landmark Roadmap charts a clear path forward to increase American jobs, competitiveness and market share in the growing distributed generation sector.”
Managed by eFormative Options and Wind Advisors Team, the SMART Wind Consortium has linked together more than 2 dozen distributed wind energy equipment manufacturers, 50 other vendors and industry supply chain members, researchers from 4 federal laboratories, 30 academic stakeholders, and nearly 20 nonprofit organizations, government representatives and other stakeholders. This initiative will open up new market opportunities and expand the number of distributed wind applications, thereby maintaining U.S. global competitiveness and leadership.
“Our vision is to inspire joint industry-academic R&D investments to advance innovative manufacturing techniques and aid rapid distributed wind growth both domestically and with exports,” said SMART Wind Project Manager Heather Rhoads-Weaver. “As both developing and industrialized nations seek to address climate and economic challenges, the U.S. distributed wind industry stands poised to provide cost-effective solutions and claim its share of the multi-trillion dollar global microgrid boom.”
Join SMART Wind Consortium leaders for a 90-minute briefing highlighting the top-priority action steps identified to address key distributed wind industry barriers and opportunities. The DWEA/WINDExchange May 18 SMART Wind Roadmap web briefing is free but space is limited, so pre-registration is encouraged: https://distributedwind.org/event/smart-wind-roadmapwindexchange-webinar
by Britton Rife | Oct 27, 2015 | News
Dear DWEA Members,
With 2016 rapidly approaching, we are focused on implementing a strategy that is necessary to have a powerful and lasting impact on the distributed wind market. Part of this process has been re-evaluating our membership levels to enhance value and benefit to your company.
The new membership levels described in the attached document allow each member company to contribute to DWEA’s Federal and State programs. Members will also receive additional benefits to access industry leaders and current market data to help you and your team find success in the industry.
Highlights of the new membership levels:
- 50% of dues go to Federal program above Industry Support level*
- 25% of dues go to State policy match program Industry Support level*
- Discounted registration to DWEA, AWEA, and WWEA events*
- Free monthly webinars*
- Participation in Committee updates
- Inclusion in Annual Buyer’s Guide*
* Indicates new value adds to DWEA members
In addition to these new levels, members are invited to join the DWEA Leadership Circle. This level of dues includes; high visibility of your company on the DWEA website, all DWEA events, newsletters, and webinars. This is a great opportunity to establish your company’s brand as a leader in the industry, but also to support the organization’s efforts on the Federal and State level. Contact me directly if you are interested in more information on how to join the Leadership Circle.
Here’s looking forward to success in 2016. We are ready to fight for you and your team, provide a seat at the table during critical policy discussions, and deliver up to date information to create a real impact on the distributed wind market.
Onward,
Jennifer Jenkins
by Britton Rife | Oct 9, 2015 | News
United Wind Secures $13.5M Financing for Major Expansion of its WindLease Program
Leading renewable energy investors, U.S. Bank and New York Green Bank partner with United Wind to expand its market leading distributed wind energy financing program
Contact
Colin Mahoney
Mahoney Communications Group
colin@mahoneycommunications.com
212-220-6045
Brooklyn, NY – October 8, 2015 – United Wind, a leading provider of distributed wind energy solutions announced today that it had secured financing from U.S. Bank and New York Green Bank to expand its market leading WindLease program, which enables both residential and commercial property owners to lease distributed-scale wind turbines (≤100kW in rated capacity). United Wind’s popular program offers qualified customers a fixed rate, 20-year maintenance-free lease to immediately reduce their energy costs by harvesting their on-site wind energy, without any initial out-of-pocket costs required from the customer.
“Rural communities represent a vast, underserved market for renewable energy across the U.S. and beyond. Our WindLease program delivers highly competitive energy prices in these areas when compared to the grid or other renewable technologies,” said Russell Tencer, Co-Founder and CEO of United Wind. “Today’s announcement represents an inflection point for our industry; with this new access to affordable project finance capital, distributed wind is now positioned to grow rapidly and meet customer demand for affordable wind energy in these communities.”
“U.S. Bank is pleased to announce its commitment to United Wind and their WindLease program,” said Daniel Siegel, vice president of U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation’s renewable energy finance division. “We see this opportunity as furthering the bank’s overall commitment to supporting a green energy future.”
United Wind launched the WindLease program in late 2013 in an effort to provide financing to the historically underserved distributed wind market. During in its first two years of operations, the company closed two rounds of project financing, deploying over $7 million into 26 projects throughout the northeast. With this new partnership, distributed wind energy begins its transition from niche concept to mainstream solution.
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About United Wind
United Wind is a leading provider of low-cost distributed wind energy through its WindLease program. Founded on the belief that the wind energy must be affordable to compete with conventional, less sustainable energy sources, United Wind provides customers with low-cost wind energy options that make sense for today and the future. For more information visit: http://www.unitedwind.com.
About U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation
With nearly $15.8 billion in managed assets as of Dec. 31, 2014, U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation, a subsidiary of U.S. Bank, provides innovative financing solutions for community development projects across the country using state and federally sponsored tax credit programs. USBCDC’s commitments provide capital investment to areas that need it the most and have contributed to the creation of new jobs, the rehabilitation of historic buildings, the construction of needed affordable and market-rate homes, the development of renewable energy facilities, and the generation of commercial economic activity in underserved communities. Visit USBCDC on the web at www.usbank.com/cdc.
by Britton Rife | Aug 10, 2015 | News
According to the 2014 Distributed Wind Market Report, distributed wind reached a cumulative capacity of almost 1 GW (906 MW) in the United States in 2014, reflecting nearly 74,000 wind turbines deployed across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In total, 63.6 MW of new distributed wind capacity was added in 2014, representing nearly 1,700 units and $170 million in investment across 24 states. In 2014, America’s distributed wind energy industry supported a growing domestic industrial base as exports from United States-based small wind turbine manufacturers accounted for nearly 80% of United States-based manufacturers’ sales.
Source: energy.gov /Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy
Get more information here: http://www.energy.gov/eere/wind/downloads/2014-distributed-wind-market-report
by Britton Rife | Aug 4, 2015 | News
DWEA is proud to announce that The Clean Coalition has partnered up with us for our Distributed Wind All-States Summit 2015: “Building Markets in the States,” which will take place from September 30 to October 1, 2015 at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento in Sacramento, CA.
The Clean Coalition is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to accelerate the transition to renewable energy and a modern grid through technical, policy, and project development expertise.
The Clean Coalition drives policy innovation to remove barriers to procurement and interconnection of distributed energy resources (DER) – such as local renewables, advanced inverters, demand response, and energy storage – and we establish market mechanisms that realize the full potential of integrating these solutions. The Clean Coalition also collaborates with utilities and municipalities to create near-term deployment opportunities that prove the technical and financial viability of local renewables and other DER.
Source: www.clean-coalition.org
