AWEA’s Community Engagement Seminar series

Ask any wind farm developer, and they’ll tell you the most successful projects are in communities that want them. And a lot of communities do, as there are wind farms in 41 out of 50 states, supporting well-paying jobs and investing billions of dollars in rural communities.

But how can we help ensure that happens? What are the best ways to mobilize the vast majority of people who support wind power while addressing the concerns that are natural for any major project?

The stakes are high for the communities involved, since opposition that stalls projects can kill jobs and eliminate new tax revenue that can pay for roads, teacher salaries, ambulances and other vital local services. How do we deliver accurate wind power information that communities find credible?

The next installment of AWEA’s Community Engagement Seminar series tackles exactly these questions.

Join us on Wednesday, March 22 in Austin, Texas for a post-conference event entitled “Community Engagement Seminar III:  Mobilizing Supporters, Defusing Opposition.”

During this highly participatory, interactive workshop, you’ll hear from fellow developers about what went right during some of their greatest successes, and what went wrong in projects that failed. You’ll learn about what visual aids can help during town halls, and discuss the roots of local concerns.

The National Journal’s Cliff Johnson will keynote on the first-person testimonials and “advocate profiling” techniques employed by the National Federation of Independent Business and others. AWEA will demonstrate new industry-wide tools, and take requests for further joint resources to help gain public acceptance.

Ensuring community buy-in is a key part of making sure we continue adding chapters to this American success story, and we all have important insights to offer to each other.

We hope to see you in Austin on March 22, where you can share your knowledge and pick up some new techniques. Sign up today!