NEW ORLEANS – American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) is hosting their WINDPOWER 2016 Conference and Exhibition in New Orleans, through Thursday, May 26, 2016, at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center’s (MCCNO) Halls F-J.
This conference is the largest wind energy conference in the Western Hemisphere, and expects thousands of attendees with more than 425 exhibiting companies. Wind turbine technicians are becoming the fastest growing jobs in the country, and a combination of updated technology and new long distance transmission lines are providing cost saving wind power opportunities to a larger number of Americans, including parts of the Southeast.
Speakers will include former U.S. Senator from Louisiana, and Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Mary Landrieu, who will touch base on the importance of political leadership on energy issues. She is also scheduled to visit with Louisiana companies who are helping to push American wind energy use.
AWEA is the national trade association of the U.S. wind energy industry with more than 800 member companies, including global leaders in wind power and energy development, wind turbine manufacturing, component and service suppliers. AWEA is the voice of wind energy in the U.S. promoting renewable energy to power a cleaner, stronger America.
This year’s conference has a projected economic impact of more than $8 million.
MAJOR EVENTS
• Tuesday, May 24 – 8:45 – 11:30 a.m.; WINDPOWER 2016 Opening and General Session, followed by media availability in Room 292. Set to address the big topics facing the U.S. wind industry today, and in the years ahead, is the U.S. Wind Industry Leaders Panel, beginning shortly after Sen. Landrieu gives opening remarks tomorrow, featuring newly-elected AWEA Board Chair Chris Brown, and panel moderator Wall Street Journal’s Senior Energy Reporter Russell Gold.
Speakers will include:
New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu (invited)
Former Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu
Steve Farber, Keynote Speaker and Best-Selling Author
Tom Kiernan, Chief Executive Officer, American Wind Energy Association
John Woolard, Vice President of Energy, Google
Steve Berberich, President and Chief Executive Officer, California ISO
Jacob Andersen, President, Wind Power and Renewables, Siemens
Kevin Gildea, Executive Director, Business Development, NextEra Energy Resources
Chris Brown, Board Chair, AWEA, and President, Vestas Americas
Jeffrey Grybowski, Chief Executive Officer, Deepwater Wind LLC
Michael Skelly, Founder and President, Clean Line Energy Partners, LLC.
Eric Stidman, Chief Financial Officer, BP Wind Energy North America, Inc.
Patrick Woodson, Chairman, E.ON Climate & Renewables, North America
• Tuesday, May 24 – 1:15 – 2:15 p.m.; Former Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu will touch base on the importance of political leadership on energy issues; MCCNO, Power Station room.
• Tuesday, May 24 – 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; The KidWind challenge features children from around the nation competing for the national title showcasing their hand-crafted wind turbines in front of energy industry experts; MCCNO, Hall E
