Indiana aims to showcase strengths in wind energy

Representatives from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and the Indiana Office of Energy Development will join executives, local officials and educators this week in Chicago to recruit new, high-tech companies to Indiana and showcase the state's strengths in wind energy development and components manufacturing.

The trip is part of the state's business recruiting efforts at the world's largest wind conference and exhibition trade show, WINDPOWER 2009, a show that is expected to host more than 1,200 exhibitors and 15,000 national and international wind energy thought leaders.

"Indiana has risen quickly as a national leader in wind energy development and is a natural location for future investment from the growing industry. Our favorable business environment and educated workforce are just a couple highlights of the compelling story we'll share with energy professionals from across the globe." said Mitch Roob, Secretary of Commerce and chief executive officer of the IEDC.

In addition to showcasing the state's homegrown energy and economic competitiveness in a booth at the convention, the Indiana delegation will meet one-on-one with company executives to encourage them to locate high-tech jobs in the fields of renewable energy and components manufacturing in the Hoosier state.

"We've just started tapping into Indiana's wind resource," said Brandon Seitz, director of OED. "Indiana's location and manufacturing infrastructure also makes it perfect to help meet this industry's growing supply chain needs."

Representatives from Duke Energy and local economic development organizations will join IEDC and OED at the Windy City trade show. Renewable energy researchers from Purdue University will also attend the conference.

While in Chicago, IEDC representatives will join with International gear maker, Brevini, to celebrate the company's newly inked contracts to supply gear boxes to two major wind turbine manufacturers starting in 2010. Last fall, Brevini announced plans to locate its U.S. headquarters and first North American gear design and manufacturing center in Muncie, adding more than 450 new jobs over the next three years.

In April, the American Wind Energy Association announced Indiana's ranking as the fastest growing state for wind energy installations in 2008 and is projected to increase installations to over 800 megawatts by the end of the year. Also in April, Dominion and BP Wind Energy announced that Phase One of Fowler Ridge Wind Farm in Benton County is operational. The largest wind farm east of the Mississippi River, the operation is expected to generate enough carbon-free electricity to power more than 120,000 homes and provide 200 new jobs for Hoosiers.

About American Wind Energy Association
WINDPOWER is hosted by the American Wind Energy Association. AWEA is the national trade association of America's wind industry, with a membership that includes global leaders in wind power development, wind turbine manufacturing, and energy, as well as a broad range of component and service suppliers. More information on wind energy is available at the AWEA Web site: www.awea.org.

About IEDC
Created by Governor Mitch Daniels in 2005 to replace the former Department of Commerce, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation is governed by a 12-member board chaired by Governor Daniels. Indiana Secretary of Commerce Mitch Roob serves as the chief executive officer of the IEDC. For more information about the state's job creating agency, visit www.iedc.in.gov.

About OED
The Office of Energy Development (OED) was created in December 2005 as an extension of the Indiana Energy Office. Under the leadership of Lt. Governor Becky Skillman, OED is responsible for the state's energy policy. Don't miss Indiana's annual wind power conference WIndiana 2009, July 21-22 in Indianapolis. For more information visit www.energy.in.gov.