Information Dissemination

The success of a community-based cluster wind energy program depends on providing the public with information. Local residents are directly involved in the decision process and need to know the advantages and disadvantages of the cluster development model. Cluster development has been a major element in numerous public forums across the Great Plains in the past year.

The Minnesota Sustainable Energy for Economic Development Project hosted three community conferences on wind energy in three corners of the state. Glen Cannon of Waverly Light and Power brought his municipal wind power project message to the annual meeting of the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association in June 1996. Michael Noble of Minnesotans for an Energy-Efficient Economy presented the "Ten Top Reasons" that Cooperative Power (a Minnesota generation and transmission cooperative) should invest in wind energy at the cooperative's annual meeting. The Northwest Area Foundation hosted a forum in February 1996 to help identify the research and information needed to support cluster development. The Dakota Resources Council has held at least two forums in North Dakota communities to discuss small cluster wind energy projects. Cluster development also has been discussed at wind energy meetings and conferences in South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa. Finally, the Sustainable Resources Center in Minneapolis is coordinating the development of a curriculum on wind energy. This curriculum, to be fully implemented by July 1997, will be used by schools and extension services to hold workshops in windy areas of Minnesota.

Abstract Table of Contents Previous section Next section