Tom Wind on Energy Resources group
DES MOINES – Members have been selected for the Iowa Energy Plan working groups for the areas of Economic Development and Energy Careers, Iowa’s Energy Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure and Energy Efficiency and Conservation.
Tom Wind of Wind Utility Consulting PC, in Franklin Township, was named to the Energy Resources working group.
Late last year, officials announced that the state would undertake an effort to set priorities and provide strategic guidance for a statewide plan to assess current and future energy supply and demand, examine energy policies and programs and identify emerging challenges and opportunities.
The Iowa Energy Plan will be built on four foundational pillars. The working groups were organized around these pillars and more than 140 membership applications were accepted for 48 spots within these groups. The groups will provide input, review data and help shape the goals and strategies of the plan.
Selection for working group membership was based on a number of factors, with the intent to bring together groups that represent the diversity of energy stakeholders. Factors considered included expertise, organization type, geographic distribution around the state, industry sectors and energy sources.
“It is an honor to be selected to serve on the Iowa Energy Resources working group for the development of the Iowa Energy Plan,” Wind said. “Most of my 42-year career as an electric power engineer has been spent planning for the future for electric utilities or developing wind and solar power projects. All of this past work and experience will hopefully help me contribute in a small way to this forward-looking energy plan for Iowa.”
Wind is a 1969 graduate of Jefferson Community High School and a 1974 graduate of Iowa State University. He was employed at Iowa Southern Utilities for 15 years before starting Wind Utility Consulting PC, providing consulting services for electric power-related studies including power supply, energy efficiency, wind power and solar power. He has provided consulting services for two dozen community wind projects totaling 80 MW that are in commercial operation today.
Working groups will meet both in person and via conference calls over the next six months. During the meetings, members will share insights and experiences on numerous topics critical to the plan’s development.
The development of the Iowa Energy Plan is intended to be an open, transparent and collaborative process that leverages input and insight from business leaders, energy innovators and members of the public. Non-members are welcome to register for the working group sessions to listen to the discussion and contribute written questions, thoughts and comments that will become part of the public record. In addition, five public energy forums will be conducted across the state to facilitate additional input.
The plan will be developed over the next several months with a tentative delivery date planned for November of 2016. The leadership team for the Iowa Energy Plan consists of Lt. Governor Reynolds, Iowa Partnership on Economic Progress (IPEP) members, Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) representatives. The cost of the plan, estimated at approximately $500,000, will be paid by IEDA and DOT.
IEDA houses the Iowa Energy Office, which coordinates a variety of state and federal programs related to energy.
