Sponsors

Sponsorship

Land Policy Institute
The mission of the Michigan State University Land Policy Institute (LPI) is to resource policy makers at the federal, state, and local level with science-based tools and solutions that help build a better quality of life, strengthen the economy, and protect the environment in ways that are fair to all. LPI’s involvement in the conference is part of an initiative to provide the scientific data, analysis, and mapping support to inform policy discussions about wind energy.

NextEnergy
NextEnergy is a non-profit corporation founded to enable the commercialization of energy technologies that positively contribute to economic competitiveness, energy security, and the environment. NextEnergy also manages the Michigan Wind Manufacturing Group with support of the Michigan Public Service Commission, Michigan Energy Office, Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, and Western Michigan University, whose mission is to advance the capacity and capabilities in the state of Michigan for designing, engineering, and manufacturing wind systems.

Michigan Economic Development Corporation
There is no better state in which to design, manufacture, and assemble wind turbine components than Michigan. Michigan offers unmatched national leadership in the technology and manufacturing sectors, an established network of suppliers, and direct proximity to the rapidly growing Midwest and Canadian wind markets. With generous incentives to meet your needs, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is ready to help your business get the Upper Hand in this rapidly expanding market.

Noble Environmental Power
Noble Environmental Power, a renewable energy company, is committed to working with communities to develop windparks that benefit both the environment and the local economy.  Headquartered in Essex, CT, Noble has approximately 4,000 megawatts of windparks under development in nine states including Michigan. In Michigan, Noble has identified approximately 750 megawatts of potential wind projects, including the 159-megawatt Noble Thumb Windpark.  Noble strongly supports the passage of a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) in Michigan, which will boost the state’s economy by stimulating investment, stabilize energy costs, and revitalize Michigan’s manufacturing sector by attracting turbine manufacturers to the state.

Stoel Rives
Stoel Rives is a full service law firm with locations in six states, including Minnesota. The Stoel Rives Wind Team has built a strong reputation helping energy providers site and develop wind power projects throughout the United States. Our early leadership role in the wind industry combined with the strength and depth of Stoel Rives' energy practice enable us to cost-effectively provide all the legal services necessary for a wind project. Wind energy services include Project Finance; Mergers and Acquisitions; Power Marketing; Energy Regulation; Real Estate and Land Use; Energy Facility Siting and Permitting; and Construction and Design, Operations and Maintenance.

Howard & Howard Attorneys, P.C.
Founded in 1869, Howard & Howard Attorneys, P.C. is a Midwest based, full-service law firm of more than 80 attorneys practicing in five offices in Michigan (Ann Arbor, Bloomfield Hills, and Kalamazoo), Nevada (Las Vegas), and Illinois (Peoria). The firm provides sophisticated legal services for an array of clients throughout the nation, including Fortune 500 companies, privately-held and publicly-traded corporations, public sector clients, and related entities.  Our major areas of practice include energy, intellectual property, environmental, general business, immigration, labor and employment, corporate, real estate, tax, and commercial litigation, as well as financial services, securities, and creditors rights law. H&H is proud to maintain the highest quality rating awarded from Martindale-Hubbell a Legal Ability Rating of the Firm is A (very high to preeminent) and the General Ethical Standards Rating of the Firm is V (“very high”).

Diversified Tooling Group
Diversified Tooling Group (DTG), a full service engineering and manufacturing group, is perfectly positioned to immediately serve the wind energy marketplace in the manufacturing of small, medium, and large components such as blade extenders, gearboxes, hubs, nacelle frames, and tower flanges. DTG provides high quality services including: solid CAD tool design, expert pattern design and build, sourcing of castings through a well established foundry network, one of the largest CNC Machining Centers in the Midwest, and the ability to manufacture fixtures, welding, and assemblies.

Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth’s Energy Office
Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth’s Energy Office promotes energy efficiency and renewable energy in Michigan.  Since Fall 2002, the Energy Office has facilitated the Michigan Wind Working Group (WWG), which works closely with the Wind Powering America program of the U.S. Department of Energy and serves as the wind committee for the Michigan Public Service Commission's Michigan Renewable Energy Program.  The WWG is promoting the development of wind energy by: providing a forum for the exchange of information; creating the opportunity for members to discuss and develop joint projects; helping to increase consumer awareness about wind energy potentia;, and identifying barriers and opportunities related to the development of wind energy.

American Wind Energy Association
American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) promotes wind energy as one of the fastest growing energy industries around the world and a clean source of electricity for consumers. In addition, AWEA represents wind power project developers, equipment suppliers, services providers, parts manufacturers, utilities, researchers, and others involved in the wind industry. AWEA provides up-to-date information on wind energy projects, companies working in the wind energy field, technology development, and policy developments related to wind and other renewable energy development.

Henkels & McCoy
Henkels & McCoy is one of the largest privately held engineering, network development, and construction firms serving the utility, communications, and information technology industries in the United States, consistently ranking at the top of the Engineering News-Record list of Specialty Contractors. Our wind power professionals offer the highest standards of workmanship, professionalism, safety consciousness, and customer focus. Henkels & McCoy is a proud Charter Member of the OSHA Electric T&D Strategic Partnership.

Michigan Environmental Council
Michigan Environmental Council (MEC) provides a collective voice for the environment at the local, state, and federal levels. Working with our 75 member groups, MEC is addressing the primary assaults on Michigan's environment. One of the council's priorities is ensuring the citizens of Michigan access to safe, clean energy and energy independence. The manufacture of turbine components and installation of wind farms is key to achieving MEC's goal of clean power and renewed economic vitality for communities across Michigan.

The Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association
The Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association (GLREA) is a non-profit organization that educates, advocates, promotes, and publicly demonstrates renewable energy technologies, along with the presentation of a variety of renewable energy seminars and educational events including the annual Michigan Energy Fair and Michigan Solar Tour. Currently GLREA is working on an MDEQ grant-funded project to develop a wind energy plan for Manistee County. This plan will then be converted into a manual for other Michigan counties to use in developing their own wind energy plans.

Kent Power
Kent Power, a Michigan based company, specializes in outside plant projects for public utilities and communication companies, including the construction and maintenance of power lines, electrical substations, underground utilities, cellular towers, and telecommunications infrastructure. With these services we are able to provide a turn-key solution for meteorological tower erection, construction of wind turbines and substations, and grid connection services. Our dedication to customer satisfaction is apparent through our commitment to workplace safety, timely schedules and quality services. We support a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) in Michigan and are committed to increasing Michigan’s use of wind energy.

Small Business Association of Michigan
Founded in 1969, the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) is the oldest and largest state based organization in the U.S. focused exclusively on serving the interests of entrepreneurial small businesses.  The SBAM Entrepreneurial Development Center's "Green Business Initiative" provides products and services designed to encourage green business development as a viable economic development, energy and environmental strategy for the state.  SBAM is also a well respected Lobbying organization that brings considerable public policy, business and entrepreneurial acumen to bear in the public policy arena.  Mark H. Clevey serves as the SBAM Vice President for Entrepreneurship.