Committees and Working Groups - American Wind Energy Association

Discover
the power oF
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powerFUL ORGANIZATION
Become involved in AWEA policy and industry committees, subcommittees
and working groups today!
Why should you BEcomE involvEd?
Your business requires knowing the best and latest information
about industry development, challenges and policy direction.
You can benefit by receiving timely written and oral reports on
policy developments, working closely with other industry leaders,
and making valuable connections with potential partners, clients
and customers – all while helping to make our industry stronger.
AWEA represents your interests and takes its direction from
these committees, so your input is critical to keep the industry
moving in the direction you believe is important. Issues identified
through your committee involvement often lead to AWEA
initiatives that directly benefit your organization.
hoW cAn you BEcomE involvEd?
It’s easy to get started. Below we list the AWEA policy
and industry committees and working groups. Learn about
what they do, find one or two of interest, and contact our
staff lead indicated with each group, or reach out to
membership@awea.org for additional information.
WhAt ArE thE opportunitiEs?
4 policy committees engage in strategy to advance policy
goals and share information on the status of policy initiatives
including state and federal legislation and regulatory policy
and policy analysis. They analyze market issues, track
projects, promote and advance key initiatives, promote
wind energy to the general public through various media,
and consider new policy positions.
4 industry groups provide guidance and direction for key
wind industry activities. Your input helps AWEA address
those issues that arise in all aspects of your business,
including sector-specific issues and areas of potential
short- and long-term growth and profitability.

What specific groups can we join in the area of policy?
FEdErAl lEgislAtivE
committEE*
Focuses on all energy and tax issues
important to the industry that are before
Congress, the White House and executive
branch agencies. Seeks to grow demand for
wind power through stable, long-term energy
and tax policies. Note: Participants on this
committee make an additional annual pledge,
based on membership level, that is used to
carry out the work of this committee and its
subcommittees. Members must be part of the
legislative committee in order to participate in
the following subcommittees.
Finance & Tax Subcommittee
This subcommittee focuses on tax and finance
issues in order to enhance the availability and
efficiency of capital for the U.S. wind industry.
A variety of tax credit structures, consideration
of master limited partnerships, and regulatory
banking issues are examples of significant
discussion topics within this subcommittee.
State Policy Subcommittee
Sets state legislative and regulatory priorities
primarily relating to market development,
taxes, transmission and siting and public
acceptance. The subcommittee has regional
caucuses for the Western, Central, and Eastern
regions in order for participants in those
areas to discuss priorities and resources and
coordinate with AWEA’s nine regional partner
organizations across the country.
Statistics & Analysis Subcommittee
Serves as a forum to analyze proposed
and existing policies and current market
issues; improves industry statistics that
AWEA produces and provides a forum for
industry feedback on data related to wind
projects, manufacturing, industry jobs,
and market forecasts.
*Additional annual pledge required
for members at the Corporate 1 -
Corporate 5 level. Please contact
membership@awea.org for
additional information.
siting committEE
Develops action plans to further reasonable
regulatory policies that affect the siting and
operations of wind energy facilities nationally.
Discusses industry best practices and
siting policies designed to minimize the
effects of wind energy development on the
environment and communities, and makes
recommendations to the Board of Directors on
critical policies to address. Evaluates all aspects
of siting policy related to the development and
operations of wind farms, including wildlife
collaborative activities such as the Bats &
Wind Energy Cooperative, American Wind
Wildlife Institute, National Wind Coordinating
Collaborative, Great Plains Wind Energy Habitat
Conservation Plan and Midwest Wind Energy
Multispecies Habitat Conservation Plan, public
lands (i.e. BLM and Forest Service), sound
and visual impacts, property values, and
radar/aviation/military issues. Initiatives include
updating the AWEA Siting Handbook and
creating Fact Sheets; coordinating research
on critical wildlife issues (e.g. eagles, sage
grouse, bats, etc.) and other contentious siting
issues such as sound-health impacts, which
could have an adverse impact on the industry;
examining technical project issues including
the development and refinement of operational
mitigation; tracking wind energy siting regulation
and policy development at the federal, state,
and local levels; and developing industry
best practices.
trAnsmission committEE*
Seeks federal, regional, and state policies and
market rules to better accommodate wind
energy onto the grid. Shares best practices
on successful grid integration experiences.
Seeks to improve access to transmission
interconnection and delivery service for wind
energy. Encourages transmission organizations,
policy makers, and market participants to
expand transmission capacity to wind-rich
areas. Works with utilities to study cost and
reliability impacts of wind integration, and
promotes means of reducing those impacts
such as wind output forecasting and system
operation methods. Note: Participants on this
committee make an additional pledge that is
used to carry out the work of the committee.
puBlic AFFAirs committEE
Promotes the benefits of wind energy in
the general public and in targeted areas
and media in support of policy and wind
development objectives. Positions member
communicators to be more proactive and
consistent in messaging and responses
concerning the industry. Identifies industrywide
challenges to the US wind energy sector
and develops strategies for how best to
deal with them. Creates long term strategies
and tactics to foster positive public opinion
and favorable media coverage. Oversees
creation and execution of public awareness
campaigns/marketing plans; anticipates and
reacts to attacks in an efficient and effective
manner. Oversees communication tools.
Effectively disseminates information throughout
member companies.
oFFshorE Wind
Working group
Tracks proposed offshore wind energy
projects in the U.S.; engages on national
policies and regulations affecting offshore wind
energy; shares information among member
companies; and develops policy positions
on key issues such as communications
and advocacy, wildlife and siting, standards
development and research and development
(R&D) needs. This working group coordinates
closely with the Offshore Wind Development
Coalition, US Offshore Wind Collaborative, and
the Offshore Wind Accelerator Project.
r&d committEE
Promotes advancement of wind energy
technology issues through identifying and
advocating for important near- and longterm
research issues. Promotes R&D efforts
identified as choke points/needs/constraints in
the 20% vision plan. Provides input for AWEA
legislative and policy efforts regarding wind
energy technology. Reviews and comments
on DOE research goals and initiatives.

sAFEty committEE
The AWEA Safety Committee promotes
the safety and health of the wind energy
workforce, seeks to achieve a safe workplace
for all and provides a forum for sharing of
information and industry best practices as
well as lessons learned. The committee
actively engages the Occupational Safety
and Health Administration (OSHA) and
other federal agencies as needed on
regulatory activities and other cooperative
partnerships; and ensures that all members
have a voice and participate in facilitating the
committee’s activities to further the goals of
continuous improvement. The AWEA Safety
and Health Committee is led by the Safety
Steering Committee, which is composed
of representatives from all sectors of the
wind energy industry. The AWEA Safety
Steering Committee has developed several
subcommittees and task forces to address
the various challenges facing the industry,
including: Alliance; Construction Safety; LOTO;
Offshore Safety; Operations and Maintenance
Safety; Training and Education; Electrical
Safety; and Industrial Hygiene.
smAll Wind committEE
Determines small wind turbine federal
legislative priorities. Secures federal and
state legislation and policies that improve
the market for small wind systems.
Contributes to market research. Collaborates
on educational and communications efforts
and media inquiries.
community Wind
Working group
A forum to discuss policies and education
enhancing the value of wind energy
development to local communities. Raises
awareness of AWEA’s committee work
to community wind developers. Seeks
common definition of the industry segment
to promote greater understanding and
coordination. Plans to consider new AWEA
policy agenda items to benefit community
wind, including nationwide interpretation
of FERC 20MW rule and a streamlined
permitting process for community wind.
in industry?
conFErEncE & EducAtion
progrAm committEE
Ensures AWEA educational programs are
as relevant and timely to the wind energy
industry as possible. Provides guidance and
general direction in program development.
Discusses and provides feedback on any
proposed questionable or controversial topics
or projects. Provides recommendations,
leadership, monitoring and support for
development of programs to help AWEA
maintain its recognition as the premier
education source for the wind industry.
WorkForcE dEvElopmEnt
committEE
The Workforce Development, Training, and
Education Committee promotes the wind
industry workforce through partnerships with
industry, academia, government agencies,
and other stakeholders to create policy
initiatives and programs. The committee also
provides a forum for all stakeholders to share
lessons learned, best practices, innovative
ideas and industry needs while developing
programs and initiatives to develop the
wind energy workforce through continuous
education for current workers, establishing a
workforce pipeline, and ensuring resources
are available.
EducAtion suBcommittEE
Provides a forum for collaborating to strengthen
wind energy education and public awareness
at the levels of K-12 and community college/
technical school, as well as academic/career
development at undergraduate/graduate
institutions. Increases marketing of existing
K-12 curriculum. Continues to refine and
expand current K-12 curriculum, developing
case studies and examples of pathways into
the industry. Increases opportunities for K-12
events and challenges. Helps technical/
community college wind technology training
programs find tools and contacts to develop
successful programs; an example of such
tools is the AWEA Wind Turbine Service
Technician Core Skill-Set. Updates the AWEA
Education Programs Database with entries of
technical schools and community colleges that
have training programs available in wind energy
technology. Develops plans for a University
Summit gathering, the first one taking place
in the summer of 2011. Continues to update
and identify the AWEA Education Programs
Database with entries of undergraduate/
graduate degree programs and coursework
in renewable and wind energy.
mAnuFActuring Working
group
Serves as advisory body benefiting
manufacturing members and provides forum
for members to discuss issues affecting
their sector, advises AWEA on policies
and provisions to better meet the needs
of this sector; advises AWEA on useful
manufacturing data. This group addresses
issues such as competitiveness and fair
trade policy.
mEmBErship committEE
Advises Board of Directors on governance
issues, bylaws, elections, and dues structure;
reviews benefits, services and AWEA’s dues
structure to ensure they are current with
industry trends and technologies.
More on next page 4

opErAtions & mAintEnAncE
Working group
Provides forum for AWEA members to share
information on materials and services that
will lead to increasing the productivity of wind
energy projects. Ensures AWEA Operations,
Maintenance and Reliability Seminar
provides valuable information to attendees.
Develops guidelines for effective operation
and maintenance procedures. Ensures that
technician training programs provide the
knowledge and skills that are essential for
effective operation of wind projects. Supports
development of component reliability
databases to establish a benchmark to track
improvements in operation, maintenance
and repair practices.
sErvicE liFt Working group
Ensures that service lifts in wind turbine
elevators operate efficiently and safely and
are subject to uniform, reasonable regulatory
oversight. Develops uniform standards
for wind turbine service lifts and educates
state and federal regulators on unique and
safe operation of service lifts. Advocates for
adoption of uniform standards by authorities
having jurisdiction for regulating service lifts.
trAnsportAtion & logistics
Working group
Engages AWEA members to discuss issues
and exchange information to increase value
of their membership. Identifies federal and
state transportation policies that act as
barriers to industry growth, and policies that
facilitate industry growth and can serve as
models to be replicated. Conducts outreach
to policymakers to seek reasonable policies
at federal and state levels and work with
transportation industry associations. Identifies
non-policy-related challenges including
capacity issues, size/weight of components,
and design and transportation challenges
of next-generation turbine components and
facilitates discussion regarding potential
solutions. Identifies opportunities where
modes of transportation can collaborate
to alleviate challenges.
If you would like to join one or more of these committees and/or learn more,
please contact the membership team: membership@awea.org.
WhAt is thE AmEricAn Wind EnErgy AssociAtion?
call 202.383.2500 I www.awea.org today!
utility Working group
Representing all of the electric utilities who
are members in AWEA, this group shares
information among utilities to increase their
understanding and adoption of wind energy
on their generating systems. Provides a forum
for member utilities to exchange wind powerrelated
information including best practices,
lessons learned, operating experience, and
challenges associated with utilities developing
wind power in the U.S.
stAndArds Working group
Provides a forum for members to obtain
information and the latest updates on the
work of the AWEA Standards Development
Board (a voluntary standards development
body accredited by the American National
Standards Institute), other standards
development impacting the wind industry
and the National Institute of Standards
and Technology.
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) is the national trade
association for the U.S. wind industry – a global leader in wind installations.
AWEA’s thousands of member companies include those in all segments of the industry:
wind project developers, wind turbine manufacters, component suppliers,
service providers, electric utilities, construction companies, engineering firms,
consultants, financial advisors, and others.