Virginia Wind Forum to be held June 3 in Harrisonburg

According to data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Virginia's onshore wind potential at 80 meters hub height is 1,800 megawatts. Virginia's offshore wind potential is more than 18,000 megawatts at 90 meters. But to date, Virginia has no installed capacity.

Virginia wind stakeholders will be gathering at James Madison University on June 3rd to discuss the opportunities for, benefits of, and challenges to Virginia’s wind energy future.  In the morning, attendees will hear from AWEA’s senior VP of policy on the national wind energy situation, as well as the regional electricity context in which Virginia operates.  GE will review the wind-natural gas economic picture.  The morning will conclude with the first of 5 Virginia-focused panels, composed of various Virginia stakeholder groups; this panel will focus on the history of wind development in Virginia (panelists will include representatives from the utility, industry, state agency, advocacy, and academic sectors).  

 Lunch will focus on small group topical roundtables where each attendee will have an opportunity to speak to experts in 20 specific wind energy topics, including economics, myths, utility integration, wind for schools, siting and permitting  issues, to name a few. 

The afternoon will include panel sessions on distributed and community wind, land-based utility–scale wind, off-shore wind, and to wrap up the day, Virginia wind futures.  Panelists will represent a broad array of Virginia stakeholders and leaders, with various experiences, approaches, and perspectives.

The agenda can be viewed at http://www.awea.org/events/Event.aspx?EventID=27946.  Please consider joining your Virginia colleagues on June 3 at JMU in Harrisonburg by registering at   http://www.awea.org/events/Event.aspx?EventID=27946&SubSectionID=6336.