At the AWEA WINDPOWER 2011 Conference & Exhibition held May 22-25, thousands of wind energy professionals gathered to promote the growth of wind as a clean, affordable, and homegrown energy source. Dubbed the World’s Largest Annual Wind Energy Event, the AWEA WINDPOWER conference brought to light many positive trends and an encouraging outlook for the U.S. wind industry. According to AWEA: "Despite significant challenges in 2010, the U.S. wind industry continued to make good on its promise to strengthen America, and laid the foundation for a strong return in 2011. We continue to work toward the goal of supplying 20% of electricity nationwide by 2030. To achieve this goal, the industry will need to add 260,000 megawatts to the current 30,000+ megawatts. There is no better time to lay the foundation and build the network for your company’s future in the wind industry." (American Wind Energy Association, "Wind Industry Strengthens America in Spite of a Difficult Year", May 2011)
Wind energy developers in the United States are making strides toward these ambitious objectives. The U.S. is a world leader in wind energy with 41,400 megawatts of installed capacity. In 2010 the U.S. wind energy industry grew by 15%. Generating capacity under construction at the start of the second quarter of 2011 was twice what it was for the same period in 2009 and 2010. (Gamut News, "World’s Largest Annual Wind Energy Event Kicks Off", May 2011)
Mark Ryun, CEO of Here Enterprises, commented: "Our high efficiency variable pitch wind turbines are in place and functional, electrical work for tie-in to the local utility is underway, and we have filed an application to generate and distribute cheap, clean, renewable wind energy. Approval of the application will enable the new Here Enterprises wind facility to link to the grid for the purpose of power generation and resale, adding our megawatts and contributing our share to the U.S.’s status as a world leader in wind-energy production."