WINDPOWER 2012 will feature more than 300,000 square feet of exhibits. And from an education, industry-advancement and networking standpoint, the conference presents an unrivaled opportunity: it is the premier occasion for national, global and regional industry professionals and stakeholders to interact. The show floor, which will span the equivalent of nearly five football fields, will feature some 900 exhibitors. Of those exhibitors, 110 will come from the Southeast, including 24 from Georgia. A strong lineup of educational programming will cover the full spectrum of wind power topics, from policy and economic development to siting and new technologies that continue to drive down the cost of wind power.
Wind now powers the equivalent of 12 million American homes, yet our national, inexhaustible resource has barely been tapped. The nation’s domestic wind resource can provide over 10 times America’s total existing power needs. And by 2030, with the right policies in place, the wind energy industry could employ 500,000 Americans. The wind energy industry is manufacturing the future today, and is poised to reach new heights.
The WINDPOWER 2012 conference program features influential business leaders including Atlanta native and CNN founder Ted Turner, as well as key figures from across the political spectrum. Karl Rove (former senior advisor to President George W. Bush) and Robert Gibbs (former Press Secretary and advisor to President Barack Obama) will share the stage, exemplifying the bipartisan support the wind industry has earned and highlighting the opportunity for common ground the industry offers. Governor Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) and Governor Mike Beebe (D-Ark.), champions of wind power, will also address the WINDPOWER audience, sharing the benefits wind power has reaped for their states.
WINDPOWER offers opportunities to take in exciting Atlanta attractions—specifically, the likes of dolphins, penguins, and an array of marine life at Georgia Aquarium, which will serve as the unique setting for the annual Conference Dinner. The all-new WINDPOWER After Hours event, meanwhile, will give attendees the chance to socialize and make new contacts, all while enjoying some wonderful Atlanta dining and nightlife destinations.
Another WINDPOWER highlight that’s quite a sight for all ages: the KidWind Challenge, an opportunity for young people to build their own wind turbines in a competition that makes for a truly exceptional education experience.
“We’re thrilled to bring the world’s biggest annual wind energy event to Atlanta,” said AWEA CEO Denise Bode. “Georgia and the Southeast are America’s manufacturing hub for our industry. This region exemplifies how wind power is an American success story, creating jobs and generating economic development. Wind power has captured 35 percent of all new generating capacity since 2007, further cementing it as a mainstream energy source. WINDPOWER 2012 will showcase this amazing industry, offering exceptional networking, education, and business opportunities.”
WINDPOWER is like no other event in the world. Recognized as one of the top 50 trade shows in the United States, the Conference and Exhibition is where products are released, new sources of business are explored, and the latest and greatest in technology is presented. Over the past five years, wind energy has annually added $15 billion of private investments into the United States.
Wind industry leaders and senior executives hailing from all over the globe will be in Atlanta showing off their products and looking for business opportunities. Countries represented include Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, South Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan and the UK.
Wind has been one of the fastest growing sources of new U.S. manufacturing jobs in recent years. Today nearly 500 manufacturing plants build wind components, and over 60 percent of components in U.S.-deployed turbines are produced domestically. An overwhelming majority of Americans – well over 80% of all Republicans, Democrats and Independents – want more wind power. The energy that wind power brings to America will be on full display June 3-6 in Atlanta.
Jay Shepley, Media Relations Assistant, www.awea.org/blog
