National Wind Power Conference in Denver Expected to Draw Thousands

Farmer Chris Rundell’s venture with other landowners on Colorado’s southeastern plains is the kind of story that advocates cite as an example of the progress wind energy has made.

The cooperative formed by Rundell and his partners has won a contract with Xcel Energy, the state’s biggest provider of electricity, to provide 69 megawatts from a 46-turbine wind farm the group will build.

Similar projects cropping up in rural communities nationwide as well as large facilities by multinational corporations underscore what could be record-breaking growth, industry officials say.

“The last five years, things have just really ramped up,” said Randall Swisher, executive director of the American Wind Energy Association, which opens its three-day national convention Monday in Denver.
AP via NCTimes.com