USDA receives honors for Rural Energy for America Program at Distributed Wind Conference

The Windustry Board of Directors along with a Peer Group of professionals who work in Community and Distributed Wind today presented the Community Wind Distinguished Service Award. This award is given annually to a person or program that has made exceptionally significant contributions, over several years, to the establishment and growth of locally owned and distributed wind as a uniquely valuable form of clean, renewable energy.

The US Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) is the recipient of this award for 2015.  We are recognizing the notable effort of many people with outstanding dedication, excellence and achievement with new approaches and business models to further community and distributed wind energy. This exemplary program’s efforts have creatively addressed challenges and broken new ground in making community and distributed wind renewable energy accessible to all.

The REAP program got its start in the Energy Title in the 2002 Farm Bill and has grown into a sizable program that requires innovative approaches due to the diversity of large and small technologies. The care that has gone into the implementation and design of the program has been instrumental in getting locally owned distributed wind generation installed throughout the country.

The national peer group of Community and Distributed Wind professionals include Tom Wind, Wind Utility Associates, Iowa; Heather Rhoads-Weaver, eFormative Options, Washington; James Duffy, Nixon Peabody, Massachusetts; Chris Diaz, Seminole Financial, Florida; Larry Flowers, Wind Consulting, Colorado; John Pimental, Foundation Windpower, LLC, California; and Lisa Daniels, Windustry, Minnesota.

Photo A Left to right – USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Energy Division Personnel John Beeler; Venus Welch-White, PhD, Management and Program Analyst; Sam Rikkers, Deputy Administrator

Photo B Left to right - Larry Flowers, Wind Consulting, Colorado; John Beeler, USDA; Venus Welch-White, PhD, Management and Program Analyst; Sam Rikkers, Deputy Administrator; Lisa Daniels, Windustry, Minnesota; Heather Rhoads-Weaver, eFormative Options, Washington; Tom Wind, Wind Utility Associates, Iowa