Alaska Renewable Energy Fair 

• Save the Date: 6th annual Renewable Energy Fair – August 7, 2010

Iowa Gov. Chet Culver speaks to a crowd at REAP’s renewable energy fair about his state's experience with renewable energy and the potential for the future. Iowa is a leader in wind energy with 15 percent of its electricity now coming from wind, making it second only to Denmark in the world in percent of electric energy generated by wind.

Speakers, electric vehicles light up renewable energy fair

More than 2,500 people came out for the 5th annual Alaska Renewable Energy Fair held Aug. 1 on the downtown park strip on what turned out to be a beautiful sunny day. Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan spoke at the event as did Iowa Gov. Chet Culver, who was the keynote speaker. Culver spoke extensively about Iowa’s experience in investing in renewable energy and the pay off it has had for his state. Iowa is now a worldwide leader in wind energy, using it to produce 15 percent of the state’s electricity, he said. That makes Iowa second only to Denmark in the world in the percent of total electricity coming from wind power. The state, thanks to state-sponsored incentives, has also bolstered its economy by becoming a magnet for wind power-manufacturing companies including international firms like Siemens Windpower A/S, Clipper Windpower, TPI Composites, ACCIONA Energy and Hendricks Industries.

Culver talked about the commitment and time it took to make Iowa a wind leader. The state legislature first passed a measure to mandate renewable energy in 1982, he said. Back then, it was a meager goal of having one percent of electricity come from renewable energy sources.

Also a big hit at the fair were the many vendor booths, including businesses selling wind and solar power set ups as well as agencies like the Alaska Energy Authority and the Bureau of Land Management’s Campbell Creek Science Center.  The National Park Service brought its latest electric-powered car from Kenai Fjords National Park, and Michael Willmon was there with his ever-popular 1978 Pinto that he retrofitted to be an electric-powered dragster. The rubber burning, but emission-free machine can do a quarter mile in just over 12 seconds, a feat that had gear heads in the crowd buzzing.

The workshops were also well attended. Speakers discussed a range of topics from the latest in wind turbine design to energy efficiency in buildings and the possibility of tidal power in Cook Inlet. Executive Director Chris Rose gave an overview of the renewable energy picture in the state and an update on proposed legislative measures, including bills aimed at giving the state an overall energy policy.

Highlighting the potential for opportunity in the field, Rose noted renewable energy is now a $150 billion a year industry that is projected to quadruple in size in six years. That, along with billions in federal and state funding aimed at renewable energy projects, presents tremendous opportunities for Alaska to not just tap renewable energy sources, but, like Iowa, to potentially become a center for renewable energy manufacturing.

Finally, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the music. From Justin Farren to The Whipsaws, the bands and singers were awesome, and had people rocking out on the park strip until 9 p.m. Thanks to all for such a great turnout. We can’t wait until next year. To see more photos from this year’s fair, go to our Flickr page.