Contact: Rich Dana (319)530-6051 To register -Tereasa (563) 288-2552 Iowans Meet to Learn More About Wind Power The Iowa Renewable Energy Association (I-Renew) will hold a wind power on Saturday, March 23rd in New Providence, Iowa. The all day conference will feature speakers on a range of technical topics from basic to advanced, the economics of wind power, legislative and utility company issues, and feature a tour of an operational residential scale wind system. It will be held at the historic Roundhouse community building in New Providence, built in 1936 by the PWA. Many Iowans have seen the wind farms in Northwest Iowa or the individual wind generators popping up at residences and schools around the state. Iowa has excellent resources for developing wind power and has the potential to become an exporter of clean energy, and yet we currently produce less than 2% of our power through wind. I-Renew's wind workshop will give visitors an opportunity to find out more about the potential economic and environmental benefits that this growing industry offers to Iowa. The local hosts for the conference are Alan and Judy Staples, whose 10 kilowatt wind turbine produces energy for their home, as well as for their community, through a "net metering" contract with Alliant Energy. The contract allows them to sell their excess energy to Alliant. According to the Staples, "Wind energy stands for Wholesome, Immeasurable, Natural and Dynamic. We believe in the power of the wind we cannot see and what it can do for our lives. That's why we have made the investment in a wind generator system." The Staples will be discussing net metering contracts and providing a tour of their system. Other speakers will include Keith Kutz of the Iowa Energy Center, Ed Woolsey of I-Renew, David Osterberg of the Iowa Policy Project, Kent Thornqvist of NEG-Micon and a panel on utility issues will include John Root of Muscatine Light and Power, Roger Arthur of Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative and John K. Helbling of Alliant Energy. Dennis Pottratz of Go Solar in Decorah will be conducting the technical seminars at the conference. Dennis is an experienced wind and solar system designer and installer and one of Iowas leading experts on residential wind systems. "Many Iowans could take advantage of the abundant wind resources that we have. My goal is to help make this a reality." The workshop will begin at 9am, Saturday, March 23rd. The New Providence Roundhouse is located on State Hwy. 299 in New Providence. New Providence is southwest of Eldora (approx. 10 miles); northwest of Marshalltown (approx 35 miles); and northeast of Ames (approx. 40 miles). For more information or to register please contact Teresa at - (563)288-2552 The workshop is sponsored in part by NEG Micon and The Union of Concerned Scientists. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For SC email list T-and-C, send: GET TERMS-AND-CONDITIONS.CURRENT to [log in to unmask]