CERTs 2009 | Community-Based Energy Development
During this workshop you will learn the basics of Community-Based Energy Development, the steps for putting together a community wind project, and business models for wind development featuring a panel of developers. You will also dig into the economic feasibility of wind, as well as policies and incentives in Minnesota that support community-based energy development. This workshop is presented by Rural Energy Development Initiative (REDI), Southwest Initiative Foundation, and Windustry.
Session Audio
| Part 1 | Download |
| Part 2 | Download |
| Part 3 | Download |
Moderators
Cheryl Glaeser, Program Specialist, Southwest Initiative Foundation: Cheryl Glaeser has been employed at the Southwest Initiative Foundation since 2005. In her role as Program Specialist, Cheryl provides leadership in the in the planning, development, and implementation of the Foundation’s renewable energy initiatives including the Youth Energy Summit (YES!) and the Rural Energy Development Initiative (REDI). Cheryl has helped SWIF build an extensive network of partnerships to move the Foundation’s goal of advancing renewable energy development forward including academic, private sector, government, and non-profit stakeholders. Prior to her work with the Foundation, Cheryl was the Training and Marketing Director for BusinessWare Solutions. Cheryl is currently a steering committee member for both Southwest and West Central CERTs.
Scott Marquardt, Senior Program Officer, Southwest Initiative Foundation: Scott Marquardt joined the Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF) in November 2007 and is the Senior Program Officer for SWIF’s economic advancement initiatives. Prior to joining SWIF, he was the Economic Development Director for the City of Montevideo. Scott is a graduate of the University of South Dakota and is currently the First Vice President of the Economic Development Association of Minnesota.
Repowering America: An introduction to our clean energy future & what we can learn from the European experience
Anna Carlson, Professor, Bemidji State University: Anna began her education in Environmental Studies at the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2001. After graduating with a Bachelors degree in Environmental Planning and Management in 2005, Anna went on to further her education at Bemidji State University in their Environmental Studies Masters program. During her studies at Bemidji State, Anna was able to do a semester abroad in Aalborg, Denmark as a guest student in their Sustainable Energy Planning and Management Program in the spring of 2007. She graduated from BSU in May of 2008 and now works as an Adjunct Professor for the University.
Steps to Community Wind – How to Put Together a Community Wind Project
Melissa Peterson, Program Analyst, Windustry: At Windustry, Melissa works with communities and individuals interested in putting together a community owned wind project. She also manages the Great Lakes Regional Wind Energy Institute, which is a regional collaboration that provides the tools for Wind Working Groups to better equip themselves with the knowledge and skills to promote wind energy within their states. Melissa has also presented at many state and regional workshops and conferences on a variety of wind energy topics. Prior to joining Windustry, Melissa worked on wind energy and avian interaction issues at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in Albany, New York.Melissa has a B.S. in Biology and Environmental Science and a M.S. in Conservation Biology and Environmental Policy, where she wrote her thesis on avian biodiversity.
Business Models for Wind
Juhl Wind
Dan Juhl, Chairman and CEO, Juhl Wind, Inc: Dan Juhl is Chairman and CEO of Juhl Wind, Inc., an established leader in Community Based Wind Power development and management, focused on wind farm projects throughout the United States and Canada. Dan has pioneered conservation and renewable energy technologies, particularly wind power, in the Midwest, having developed 1,500 MW of wind generation in his 30 years of experience in the field. During his tenure in the wind industry, Dan’s activities have covered every aspect of the technology including R&D, design, manufacturing, development, installation, and O&M. He has also been instrumental in helping to form public policy by working with legislators and regulators on the workings and benefits of utilizing renewables in the energy mix, and is considered to be one of the nations leading experts on wind technology and community owned renewable distributive generation. Dan has He has been a consultant to Edison Capital, Johnson Controls, John Deere Capital, Nordex Turbines, Suzlon Turbine Manufacturing, Nebraska Power and Excel Energy. He has appeared before numerous state and federal governmental bodies advocating wind power and community-based energy development on behalf of landowners, farmers, and ranchers. Dan also wrote the popular wind energy reference guidebook Harvesting Wind Energy As A Cash Crop.
National Wind Development Model
Tiff Thompson, Wind Developer, National Wind: Tiffany Thompson is a wind farm developer for National Wind, LLC, the leading community-based, wind energy company. She has helped manage the development process for three of National Wind’s large-scale, community-owned wind projects. National Wind, overall, is managing 13 families of projects, with an aggregate nameplate capacity of 4,000 megawatts. Prior to National Wind, Thompson worked as a land agent for Clipper Wind Power. Thompson is also an accomplished public speaker and teacher, with experience working as a communications instructor at the University of Maryland. An avid environmental advocate, Thompson has held many leadership roles for several conservation organizations.
Klickitat PUD – White Creek Wind Project
Tom Svendsen, General Manager, Klickitack Utility & White Creek Wind: Tom Svendsen has been an employee of Klickitat PUD since August 1976, and has worked in several capacities including engineering & operations manager, power manager, and most recently general manager. He has a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Washington. Tom joins us as a representative of the White Creek Wind Project, the largest public power initiated wind project in the United States. White Creek was developed by four Washington consumer-owned utilities ― Cowlitz PUD, Klickitat PUD, Lakeview Light & Power, and Tanner Electric Co-op.
Geronimo Wind Development Model
Charlie Daum, Wind Developer, Geronimo Wind: Charlie Daum is Director of Development for Geronimo Wind Energy and leads the day-to-day development activities for the company. Geronimo has built a pipeline of over 20 Greenfield development projects in the Upper Midwest with an aggregate nameplate capacity exceeding 2,000 MW. Charlie joined The Rahn Group in June 2005 as an investment analyst. He quickly migrated to wind power and is helping lead Geronimo Wind Energy’s business. Charlie has worked with every stage of wind power development from site feasibility analysis, planning, local and State permitting to power purchase agreement negotiation. He is responsible for building strategic relationships for Geronimo in addition to growing the company’s project development pipeline. Charlie has a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Marketing from Washington University.
Economic Feasibility – What are the Variables That Affect My ROI?
Patrick Louwagie, CPA, Hoffman & Brobst, PLLP: Pat has been working with community based projects in the upper Midwest since 1999. He assists developers during the development stage with cash flow and tax analysis and during the operational stage with accounting and tax planning and preparation. His firm currently does all the tax preparation nationwide for John Deere wind division as well performs audits services and tax reporting for numerous other projects owned by Edison Capital and other equity partners in the region.
How is Minnesota Supporting Community-Based Energy Development?
Mike Bull, Regional Policy Manager, Wind on the Wires: Mike Bull is the Regional Policy Manager for Wind on the Wires (WOW). WOW is collaboration between the wind industry and clean energy advocates in the Midwest to promote policies that encourage wind development in the region. Mike has more than 15 years working on energy issues under Minnesota Governors Tim Pawlenty and Jesse Ventura, the Minnesota Office of Energy Security and both bodies of the Minnesota Legislature. In those roles, Mike successfully negotiated and guided adoption of state and regional initiatives regarding renewable energy production, utility regulation, energy taxation, transmission infrastructure, wind permitting, and community energy.
Clean Energy Resource Teams