AMERICAN CORN GROWERS ARE MAJOR SPONSOR
OF WINDPOWER 2008 IN HOUSTON
Energy Independence, New Transmission, 20% Wind Energy
Vision, C-BED Wind Model Are Key
HOUSTON, May 23, 2008---The American Corn Growers Foundation (ACGF)
and the American Corn Growers Association (ACGA), through their
Wealth From The Wind (WFTW) program, are a major
sponsor of WINDPOWER 2008 June 1-4 in Houston, Texas. WINDPOWER
2008 is expected to be the largest wind energy conference and
trade show ever held in North America with as many as eight
thousand representatives of the wind industry, government and
advocacy organizations participating in the activities.
Gale Lush, ACGF Chairman from Wilcox, NE said, “Wind energy is
essential as a renewable, sustainable and clean energy source,
and a valuable new crop for rural America. The ACGF has worked
closely with wind energy pioneer Dan Juhl of Woodstock, MN since
2002. Our contract with Juhl Energy Development, Inc. was the
lead factor in bringing the Community Based Energy Development
(C-BED) model to Nebraska. Dan Juhl’s international wind energy
expertise in developing Minnesota’s C-BED model, along with his
commitment to rural communities, has directly resulted in a new
42 megawatt (MW) C-BED wind farm being recently announced for
construction near Crofton, Nebraska. Another 80 MW wind project
was also announced.” Lush applauded the farm, rural and
environmental coalition, NPPD and the entire Nebraska
Legislature for seeing that C-BED is the ideal fit for wind
energy development in Nebraska. In 2007 new C-BED policy
legislation, cosponsored by Senator Dierks, Senator Priester and
Senator Dubas, passed 49-0.
 Dan
Juhl, CEO of Juhl Energy Development, Inc. stated, “I am very
pleased to have been able to bring the C-BED model and its rural
economic development benefits to Nebraska, the 100% public power
state. C-BED effectively puts private sector wind energy
incentives to work for all Nebraska electric customers.”
“Energy independence is critical for the future economic
security of the United States. Rapid wind energy deployment,
including a modernized, expanded electric transmission grid and
infrastructure are essential. Transmission is key in the
renewable energy strategy that includes the 20% Wind Energy
Initiative recently announced by the U. S. Department of
Energy,” said Dan McGuire, ACGF Chief Executive. McGuire will be
a speaker on the “Building Community Support in a 20% Scenario”
panel on June 3rd at WINDPOWER. “New transmission is rural
America’s farm-to-market road for delivering clean, renewable
wind generated electricity to American industry and U.S.
consumers. Our leaders must get behind a modernized electric
transmission infrastructure to move wind energy from the high
wind resource areas to the densely populated urban load centers.
Just as the interstate highway system was key to national
security and economic development, a modern electric grid helps
U.S. energy independence and economic security,” said McGuire
“We commend AWEA and we salute the U. S. Department of Energy’s
and National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s new 20% Wind Energy
Initiative, a vision the U.S. urgently needs to realize,” said
McGuire.
The ACGF sponsorship of WINDPOWER 2008 is made possible by a W.
K. Kellogg Foundation grant dedicated to creating
community-based, locally-owned wind energy development projects
that enhance rural economic development. The ACGF works with the
U.S. Department of Energy and National Renewable Energy
Laboratory Wind Powering America program on wind energy for
rural economic development. |
