State Travels to Texas to Recruit Wind Energy Jobs to Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS, IN  - Representatives from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and the Indiana Office of Energy Development will join executives, local officials and educators next week in Dallas to recruit new, high-tech companies to Indiana and showcase the state's strengths in wind energy development and components manufacturing.

The trip is part of the state's business recruiting efforts at the world's largest wind conference and exhibition trade show, WINDPOWER 2010, a show that is expected to host more than 1,300 exhibitors and 23,000 national and international wind energy leaders.  

"Indiana continues to be at the top of the list for growing opportunities in wind power development and associated supply chain needs," said Mitch Roob, Secretary of Commerce and chief executive officer of the IEDC.   "With the workforce and logistics infrastructure already in place, we will continue to promote Indiana's assets across the country and around the world." 

In addition to showcasing the state's homegrown energy and economic competitiveness in a booth at the convention, the Indiana delegation will meet one-on-one with company executives to encourage them to locate high-tech jobs in the fields of renewable energy and components manufacturing in the Hoosier state.

"The growing amount of wind development in Indiana is only partially due to our available wind resource," said Brandon Seitz, OED director. "It also has a lot to do with the economic development landscape here that spells success for manufacturers as well as developers."

Representatives from Duke Energy, Indiana Michigan Power, Hoosier Energy, Ice Miller, Krieg DeVault, Columbus Economic Development Board, Energize-ECI, Indy Partnership and MidWest Indiana Economic Development will join IEDC and OED at the trade show. 

Indiana is a leading state in adding new wind capacity - ranking second in the nation in 2009 and first in 2008 according to the American Wind Energy Association.  At 750 megawatts, BP's zero-emission Fowler Ridge Wind Farm in Benton County is the largest wind farm east of the Mississippi River and generates enough carbon-free electricity to power more than 120,000 homes.

About American Wind Energy Association
WINDPOWER is hosted by the American Wind Energy Association.  AWEA is the national trade association of America's wind industry, with a membership that includes global leaders in wind power development, wind turbine manufacturing, and energy, as well as a broad range of component and service suppliers. More information on wind energy is available at the AWEA Web site:  www.awea.org.