Distributed Wind Energy Association Applauds USDA Final REAP Program Rule on Eve of USDA REAP Forum

Distributed Wind Energy Association Applauds USDA Final REAP Program Rule on Eve of USDA REAP Forum

Washington DC — Today the Distributed Wind Energy Association (DWEA) lauded USDA’s recent announcement of a final rule for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). This rule-making process has been years in the making, and DWEA has been an active participant since the beginning. The core program is still providing grants and loan guarantees to rural small businesses, farmers and others in the agricultural community. However, positive adjustments have been made including a new simplified “three tiered” application process, more frequent solicitations, and priority points for specific policy priorities such as the advancement of distributed wind power.

“The REAP program has always been a very good one, strongly supported on a bi-partisan basis to help expand development of rural America’s abundant renewable energy resources,” said Jennifer Jenkins, DWEA’s Executive Director.  “Now it’s an even better program helping ensure distributed wind power’s continued role in bringing clean, affordable and homegrown electricity to rural America. I am pleased to see the efforts of the USDA for it’s great work on the program.”

“This program helps farmers and rural businesses lower their operating costs and become more competitive by installing American-made small wind turbines,” said DWEA President, Mike Bergey. “Recent improvements to the program have made it more accessible to family farms and small businesses and we are very appreciative of the streamlining of the application process.”

Mike Bergey of Bergey Windpower and DWEA President will be on a panel Friday February 6th to discuss the importance of the REAP program. USDA’s “National Stakeholder Forum” will run from 1 to 3pm and also include remarks by USDA dignitaries, and be broadcast via webinar for those unable to attend in person. For more information contact Venus Welch-White on 202-720-0400 or venus.welchwhite@wdc.usda.gov.

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About the Distributed Wind Energy Association
The Distributed Wind Energy Association is a collaborative group comprised of manufacturers, distributors, project developers, dealers, installers, and advocates, whose primary mission is to promote and foster all aspects of the American distributed wind energy industry. Distributed wind is the use of wind turbines at homes, farm and ranches, businesses, public and industrial facilities, off-grid and other sites connected either physically or virtually on the customer side of the meter to offset all or a portion of local energy consumption or to support grid operations. DWEA seeks to represent members and associates from all sectors with relevant interests pertaining to the distributed wind industry. For more information on DWEA, please go to www.distributedwind.org. Follow us on Twitter @DWEA and like us on Facebook.

Blumenauer Receives Legislator of the Year Award from the Distributed Wind Energy Association

Blumenauer Receives Legislator of the Year Award from the Distributed Wind Energy Association

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb 28, 2014

FOR MORE INFO: Lauren Glickman            
Email: Lglickman@distributedwind.org 
Tel:
504-258-7955

                       

 

Blumenauer Receives Legislator of the Year Award from the Distributed Wind Energy Association

 

WASHINGTON – Representative Earl Blumenauer today received a Legislator of the Year Award from the Distributed Wind Energy Association for his true leadership for distributed wind power.

Mike Bergey of Bergey Windpower, Steve Shum of Xzeres Wind and Jennifer Jenkins of the Distributed Wind Energy Association presented the Congressman with the award. Blumenauer successfully led efforts in Congress to enact the small wind Investment Tax Credit (ITC). His efforts have not stopped there. He has been a champion of the industry on many fronts, including the pursuit of more distributed wind funding from the Department of Energy.

“I am very grateful for this award,” said Congressman Blumenauer. “Wind energy is a key part of our renewable energy mix. Investing in wind diversifies our energy supply and strengthens our resilience to energy related challenges, while improving our national energy security. I will continue working as hard as I can to support wind energy and ensure that it remains a strong and viable option for millions of Americans and creates living wage, non-exportable jobs.”

“I want to thank Congressman Blumenauer for his strong support of distributed wind power and this American success story.,” said Jennifer Jenkins, Executive Director of the Distributed Wind Energy Association.  “Our industry is at a critical crossroads, but with his leadership on driving policies, we are provided with the certainty we need to continue to grow.”

Distributed wind is present in all 50 states, stimulating local economies and providing American jobs.  Compared to traditional, centralized power plants, distributed wind energy installations directly supply power to the local grid near homes, farms, businesses and communities– helping to improve grid reliability and efficiency. Turbines used in these applications can range in size from a few hundred watts to multi-megawatts, and can help power remote, off-grid homes and farms as well as local schools and manufacturing facilities. Distributed wind installations comprise more than 68% of all wind turbines installed in the United States (on a unit basis) over the past ten years.

In Oregon, the State’s natural wind resources generate approximately 1700 megawatts of electricity. That’s enough power to meet the needs of nearly 700,000 average American homes. Oregon currently has the 5th most wind power capacity installed of any state.

“As an Oregon based manufacturer with over 9,000 turbines installed around the world, XZERES Corp sincerely appreciates Congressman Blumenauer’s support and confidence that distributed wind systems have a place in today’s energy landscape.  Our Skystream 2.4kW and 442SR 10kW small wind turbines are found throughout Oregon, powering schools, farms, homes, wineries and more and we look forward to further progress domestically to compliment our global efforts”, stated XZERES CFO Steve Shum.

About the Distributed Wind Energy Association
The Distributed Wind Energy Association is a collaborative group comprised of manufacturers, distributors, project developers, dealers, installers, and advocates, whose primary mission is to promote and foster all aspects of the American distributed wind energy industry. Distributed wind, commonly referred to as small and community wind, is the use of typically smaller wind turbines at homes, farms, businesses, and public facilities to off-set all or a portion of on-site energy consumption. DWEA seeks to attract members and associates from all sectors with relevant interests pertaining to the distributed wind industry. For more information on DWEA, please go to www.distributedwind.org. Follow us on Twitter @DWEA and like us on Facebook. Join us for Distributed Wind 2014: A Capitol Hill Event for Small and Community Wind on February 27-28 in Washington, D.C.

Leaders in distributed wind power deliver their stories to Congress

Leaders in distributed wind power deliver their stories to Congress

**Media Availability** Leaders in distributed wind power deliver their stories to Congress

“Wind Week” continues as Distributed wind industry heads to the hill

February 27, 2014

What:  The Distributed Wind Energy Association (DWEA) kicked off its third annual Lobby Day in Washington, DC today. After a full day of lobbying on Capitol Hill, there will be a business conference that focuses on industry trends. Small business owners from across the country joined together to deliver their stories to Congress in addition to the stories of their colleagues in utility-scale and offshore wind energy.  Distributed wind is present in all 50 states, stimulating local economies and providing American jobs.

Who:  Mike Bergey, President, Bergey Windpower
Brett Pingree, VP of Sales, Endurance Wind Power
Tal Mamo, President and Co-Founder, UNITED WIND
Haley Roberto, President, HTWN

Where: DWEA Business Conference-JW Marriot, Washington, D.C.
February 28, 2014
8:00AM – 3:25 PM
To RSVP for Friday’s Business Conference or for follow up contact Lauren Glickman Communications Manager, DWEA, lglickman@distributedwind.org, 504-258-7955

About the companies:

Bergey Windpower is the oldest and most experienced manufacturer of residential-sized wind turbines in the world. Thirty years ago Bergey pioneered the radically-simple “Bergey design” that has proven to provide the best reliability, performance, service life, and value of all of the hundreds of competitive products that have come and gone in that time. With only three moving parts and no scheduled maintenance necessary, the Bergey 10 kW has compiled a service record that no other wind turbine can match. We back it up with the longest warranty in the industry.

Endurance Wind Power (“Endurance”) is a manufacturer of advanced wind turbines designed specifically for distributed wind power applications. Our line of modern,induction-based wind turbines brings efficient, reliable, safe and quiet renewable energy to homeowners, businesses and institutions across Europe, North America and an expanding global market.

UNITED WIND was formed in 2013 as a combination of assets and talent from the two industry-leading small wind companies: Talco Electronics and Wind Analytics. Talco, founded in 2000, sold more than 150 turbines and was the leading distributor of small wind turbines in the United States. Wind Analytics, founded in 2007, was the only company to offer a third-party verified remote wind speed analysis tool, empowering potential small wind turbine owners with a low-cost site assessment. With the best of Talco and Wind Analytics together, United Wind is the only company that has the knowledge and capability to offer the first ever little-to-no money down leasing option to small wind customers in the United States.

HTWN has become a national leader for clean distributed energy solutions by redefining sustainability in the distributed market. HTWN has supported the successful installation of over 170 distributed wind projects. Our dealers have been trained over the last 5 years on how to properly identify customers, provide site assessments and pro-formas, sell, service and support the projects for the lifetime of the equipment. With our professional HTWN team of Engineers, Finance, Project Management, Marketing, Technical and Service Support we are able to embrace a new technology and properly educate our vast network in implementation.

About the Distributed Wind Energy Association
The Distributed Wind Energy Association is a collaborative group comprised of manufacturers, distributors, project developers, dealers, installers, and advocates, whose primary mission is to promote and foster all aspects of the American distributed wind energy industry. Distributed wind, commonly referred to as small and community wind, is the use of typically smaller wind turbines at homes, farms, businesses, and public facilities to off-set all or a portion of on-site energy consumption. DWEA seeks to attract members and associates from all sectors with relevant interests pertaining to the distributed wind industry. For more information on DWEA, please go to www.distributedwind.org. Follow us on Twitter @DWEA and like us on Facebook. Join us for Distributed Wind 2014: A Capitol Hill Event for Small and Community Wind on February 27-28 in Washington, D.C.