IWEA Merges with Wind on the Wires

Group establishes grassroots initiative called the "Illinois Wind Energy Coalition"

CHICAGO (Feb. 8, 2012) - In an effort to improve communication and wind power advocacy efforts, the Illinois Wind Energy Association ("IWEA") is merging with Wind on the Wires ("WOW"), a Midwest wind advocacy organization dedicated to overcoming the barriers to bringing wind energy to market.  The merger is effective immediately.

Former IWEA Director Kevin Borgia will join WOW as Manager of Public Policy & Membership, and under the auspices of WOW will spearhead a new grassroots initiative called the Illinois Wind Energy Coalition.

 "This is a great thing for the wind industry in Illinois," said Borgia. "This merger allows the industry to use its resources much more effectively, and offers members the benefit of WOW's staff, who are dedicated to addressing the ongoing legislative, regulatory, and technical/transmission challenges in the Midwest." 

"We are very excited to have Kevin on board to complement our already strong policy staff," said Wind on the Wires Executive Director Beth Soholt.  "We are confident that Kevin's experience in Illinois policy, combined with his enthusiasm for membership development, will provide additional value to our members." 

Existing IWEA Members at the Gigawatt and Megawatt levels will automatically become members of the WOW Illinois Working Group, which focuses on policymaking matters for the state. Members at the Kilowatt and Associate levels will continue to receive periodic updates, legislative action alerts and other news about wind power in Illinois.  All IWEA members will automatically become members of the newly formed grassroots alliance known as the Illinois Wind Energy Coalition.  

About the Illinois Wind Energy Coalition

The Illinois Wind Energy Coalition is a group of businesses, organizations and individuals dedicated to helping wind power thrive in Illinois. Membership in the Coalition is available at no charge, and is open to anyone who supports wind energy for Illinois, including businesses,organizations, individuals, local officials and others.  The purpose of the Coalition is to help educate lawmakers at the Capitol, and the general public, about the benefits that wind energy offers Illinois through jobs, economic development, as well as an economic, homegrown clean energy resource.       

Coalition members will receive periodic news and policy updates, and opportunities for networking and invitations to other events.

To support this initiative, the former IWEA website (www.windforillinois.org) has been re-tooled and now serves as the home base for information, events and activities related to the Illinois Wind Energy Coalition.

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Wind on the Wires is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in St. Paul, Minn., which is comprised of wind developers, environmental organizations, tribal representatives, public interest groups, clean energy advocates, farm groups and businesses providing goods and services to the wind industry. Our mission is to overcome the barriers to bringing wind energy to market by addressing technical and regulatory issues, as well as through education and public outreach.