New  American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) leadership takes helm with EDPR’s Gabriel Alonso chairing the board. Tom Kiernan to speak as incoming CEO.

Generating a sense of electricity like the thousands of wind turbines in the region, the WINDPOWER 2013 Conference & Exhibition (May 5-8, 2013) officially came online in Chicago, a hub for the American wind energy industry. New leadership for the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) is first being inducted, followed by a packed schedule of educational sessions and a dynamic exhibition covering the area of 11 football fields.

WINDPOWER 2013 also marks the start of a new industry year, with Gabriel Alonso, CEO of EDP Renewables North America, beginning his one-year term as Board Chair.

The opening day featured a full slate of Technical Training Courses – a brand-new set of extended sessions addressing the hands-on side of the industry, from effective operation-and-maintenance practices and wind resource assessment, to electrical safety for managers and an examination of wind’s environmental, economic and social impact. The courses are led by AWEA member companies and organizations specializing in the respective areas.

Also at the opening session, the industry will officially meet AWEA’s incoming CEO, Tom Kiernan, who starts in his new position May 28. Kiernan comes to AWEA from the National Parks Conservation Association, and was a senior official at the Environmental Protection Agency under President George H.W. Bush’s administration. He offers business experience and a bipartisan approach to policy, an all-important skill in Washington, D.C., these days.

AWEA is the national trade association of America's wind industry, with 1,200 member companies, including global leaders in wind power and energy development, wind turbine manufacturing, component and service suppliers.