New North: Wisconsin Wind Works continues to grow in 2010

Contact : Joshua Morby

Mobile : 920.968.4197

Email: media@thenewnorth.com

Group adds nearly 40 new companies, creates new website

NEW NORTH, November 18, 2010 – Wisconsin Wind Works, the consortium of wind energy suppliers and manufacturers established by the New North, Inc., grew significantly over the past year, and indicators suggest the group is having a great deal of success in growing the wind energy industry in the state.

The Wisconsin Wind Works Supply Chain Directory, a listing of state companies capable of producing components and providing services to the industry, added 40 companies in 2010, bringing the statewide total to 279. Of those companies, 68 percent report they are currently supplying the wind energy market, an increase of 24 percent from 2009.

“It’s clear from these statistics that the efforts of the New North and Wisconsin Wind Works are having a positive effect on promoting the assets of our state and the capabilities of the companies within it,” said Jerry Murphy, Executive Director of the New North, Inc. “With our state’s excellent advanced manufacturers and the success of our technical colleges in training workers for this industry, people across the country are recognizing that Wisconsin is the ideal place for component production and other wind energy services.”

Wisconsin Wind Works recently hosted a wind energy symposium in Milwaukee on October 13th, which drew over 300 attendees. Nearly 85 attendees traveled from states outside of Wisconsin – from as far away as California, Vermont, Florida, and Texas – and 95 attendees were new contacts and business leads for Wisconsin Wind Works. Three new companies also joined the Wisconsin Wind Works Alliance as a result of the conference.

The organization also launched its new website – http://www.wiwindworks.com – in October, and has since received hundreds of visitors from eleven countries on four continents. As part of the launch, the Supply Chain Directory was redesigned to be more user friendly, offer enhanced search options, and include a new category of business.

“We’re excited about the potential of this industry for the New North and the state as a whole, and we look forward to continued growth and success in the coming year,” Murphy said. “We’re also excited to report further on the efforts of Wisconsin Wind Works at the upcoming New North Summit on December 3.”

The 7th annual New North Summit will be held at the Kolf Sports Center at UW-Oshkosh. The efforts of Wisconsin Wind Works will be highlighted during the event, which will also feature Oshkosh-based Renewegy, LLC demonstrating their model wind turbine.

For more information on the Summit, please visit http://www.newnorthsummit.com.

New North, Inc. is a regional collaboration effort focused on promoting regional cooperation and economic development in an 18-county region in Northeast Wisconsin. The 18 counties included in the New North are Outagamie, Winnebago, Calumet, Waupaca, Brown, Shawano, Oconto, Marinette, Door, Kewaunee, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette, Florence, Menominee, and Waushara. To find out more information about New North, Inc., please visit our website at http://www.thenewnorth.com.