WIRE-Net's Great Lakes Wind Network Makes Progress

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) recently noted the progress WIRE-Net’s latest brainchild is making to strengthen Ohio’s wind turbine supply chain.  See this link for information on subscribing to the electronic edition of Wind Energy Weekly:  http://www.awea.org/wew/

 

Ohio Group Seeks Out Wind Industry to Meet Value-Chain Needs
Ohio just put up a big Welcome banner for the wind industry value chain.

A recent conference organized by Ohio economic development organization WIRE-Net sought to connect suppliers in the state with the wind industry, with the ultimate goal of getting the state to provide a significant number of links to wind’s tight supply chain.

About 50 Ohio companies attended the Great Lakes Wind Network Supply Chain Forum to learn more about the wind power industry and network with featured guest Clipper Windpower. The event was so successful that Ed Weston, WIRE-Net’s wind energy director, intends to repeat the event on a quarterly basis, with a different wind industry company featured at each one. “I was delighted with the turnout,” Weston told Wind Energy Weekly. “It exceeded our expectations.”

Indeed, companies attending the event, to which Weston had to “turn people away,” could potentially make up a significant chunk of the value chain. The list of participants, among others, included eight foundries, seven machine shops, five forges, five fabrication shops, five electrical and electronics companies, four gear producers, four fasteners, and four materials suppliers. In addition to learning more about the wind industry through the presentation of Todd Windeknecht, Clipper’s strategic commodity leader, attendees had the chance to network and meet one-on-one with Clipper.

“If we can find suppliers we can partner with, we'll do it,” Windeknecht told the group.

In case Windeknecht and the rest of the gathering harbored any uncertainty about the state’s interest in attracting the industry, attendees also had the chance to hear from Chad Smith of the Ohio Department of Development and Michael Jung from the office of Governor Ted Strickland (D), who spoke on Ohio’s commitment to wind.

The success of the day, noted Weston, “speaks to the level of interest and density of wind-capable manufacturers” in the state. The next event, he said, will take place in the first quarter of 2008.