Brookings Area MultiPlex
Brookings, South Dakota

Conference Purpose: To highlight current South Dakota and regional work on wind resource assessment, project development, wind products and markets, and transmission issues from the perspectives of business, government and non-profit sector stakeholders; to identify opportunities and barriers; to create consensus on realistic actions that encourage wind development; and to improve long-term working relationships among key stakeholders.

Conference Format: A discussion format will be used. Topics will be introduced by the session moderator and expert panelists will briefly provide responses. The audience will be encouraged to ask questions and offer comments.

Wednesday, October 18, 2000

9:00 - 10:00 a.m.  Registration

10:00 a.m. Welcome and Introductions: Public Utilities Commission Chairman Jim Burg

10:30-11:45 a.m. Session 1: Wind Resources, Technology and Costs

Moderator: Mike Ropp, SDSU

Panelist 1: John Dunlop, American Wind Energy Association
Panelist 2: Larry Flowers, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Panelist 3: Gabe Petlin, RESOLVE

Session 1 Content: What is the best information available about South Dakota wind resources? What is the total potential in the state and nation? What do NREL wind resource maps for South Dakota show? What are the basic facts about wind technologies and costs? What are the characteristics of modern wind turbines? What do turbines and wind farms cost? This panel will discuss both small and large operations as well as the national issues facing wind development.

11:45 a.m. Networking Break

Noon Working Lunch

Presenter: Bob Dixon, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy.

12:30-2:30 p.m. Session 2: Wind Transmission and System Integration

Moderator: Scott Parsely, East River Electric Power Cooperative

Panelist 1: Ed Weber, WAPA
Panelist 2: Don Jones, Xcel Energy
Panelist 3: David Blecker, Earth Energy Systems.

Note: U. S. Senator Tim Johnson will address the audience during this time.

Session 2 Content: What transmission is available to move South Dakota wind to market? What about transmission capacity, interconnection and service tariffs? What roles are played by current and future power supply contracts? How can wind be integrated with other generation resources, such as coal and hydro?

2:30-2:45 p.m. Networking Break

2:45-4:30 p.m. Session 3: South Dakota Wind Projects

Moderator: Clare Giesen, Special Advisor for Renewable Technologies, RUS

Panelist 1: Dan Ziebarth, East River Electric Power Cooperative
Panelist 2: Bob Gough, Intertribal Council On Utility Policy
Panelist 3: Ken Hach, Clipper
Panelist 4: Bob Bergstrom, Florida Power and Light
Panelist 5: Steve Macken, National Wind Power
Panelist 6: Jim Nichols, MN

Session 3 Content: This will be a project Introduction: What wind developments are under consideration? Why South Dakota and why now?

4:30-5:30 p.m. Break

5:30-7:00 p.m. Dinner - Speaker: Randy Udall, Community Office for Resource Efficiency

7:00-9:00 p.m. Session 4: Economic Development and Landowner Forum

Moderator: Jim Burg, SDPUC

Panelist 1: Henning Hansen, Landowner, Elkton, SD
Panelist 2: Jay Haley, ND
Panelist 3: Lisa Daniels, Windustry
Panelist 4: Charles Goodman, Landowner, Alta, IA

Session 4 Content: What are the economic development costs and benefits of wind development? What have other local jurisdictions experienced? What are landowner concerns and issues? Can a model lease contract be developed?

Thursday, October 19, 2000

8:30-9:30 a.m. Session 5: Wind Markets

Moderator: Ron Lehr

Panelist 1: Rick Halet, Xcel Energy
Panelist 2: Lori Bird, National Renewable Energy Labratory
Panelist 3: Jim Edwards, East River Electric Power Cooperative
Panelist 4: Christopher Reed, Moorhead Public Service

Session 5 Content: What is the status of South Dakota wind products and markets? What are the markets for South Dakota wind in other states? Are there regional green markets? The panel will discuss three markets: Markets for utility contracts, utility green pricing and markets for customer choice in restructured states.

9:30-9:45 a.m. Networking Break

9:45-11:00 a.m. Session 6: State Policies

Moderator: Deb Fischer-Clemens, State Representative, Mitchell, SD

Panelist 1: Angela Chen, Executive Officer, Energy Bureau, IA Dept. of Natural Resources
Panelist 2: Troy Gagliano, Energy Policy Analyst, National Conference of State Legislators
Panelist 3: Brent Gale, MidAmerican Industry
Panelist 4: Jim Schade, Former Director of Property Tax Division, SDDOR

Session 6 Content: Are South Dakota statutes adequate to begin wind development? What state policies should South Dakota consider to be competitive? How might Amendment E affect wind development? Are there any tax incentives/liabilities?

11:00 a.m. Networking Break

11:15-12:30 p.m. Session 7: Action Agenda

Moderator: Jim Burg, Chairman SD PUC

Panelist 1: Mike Ropp
Panelist 2: Scott Parsley
Panelist 3: Clare Giesen
Panelist 4: Jim Burg
Panelist 5: Ron Lehr
Panelist 6: Deb Fischer-Clemens

Session 7 Content: Where do we go from here? What are the key issues identified during the conference that require action? Who will follow-through with action items?

12:30-3:00 p.m. Box Lunch and Tour of Minnesota Wind Farm

Host: Florida Power and Light with Jim Wilcox, Xcel Energy, Coordinating Tour.

3:00 p.m. Adjourn