All last year, Windpower Engineering & Development readers were asked to vote for the company they thought was providing notable leadership in the wind industry. The companies nominated were posted at windpowerengineering.com and are listed below. A new crop of candidates is also listed in this issue. For 2017, leadership was a precious commodity because of the uncertainty that came from Washington D.C.
The good news is that cool minds and solid leadership among wind advocates were found in many places and at many levels in business and government. While the recently passed tax bill was in flux, local groups petitioned their elected men and women in Congress along with senators to support the terms of the previously agreed upon Production Tax Credit.
Equally vocal and persuasive groups such as the American Wind Energy Association and its members, made visits to the power brokers in government to make sure the wind industry was headed in the right direction. All this effort provided certainty to the business of developing the wind industry.
The effort paid off. The PTC, omitted from early drafts of the bill, was reinstated for the final version. Such certainty, always good news to those guiding and growing businesses is a key ingredient of a successful industry.
Leadership also comes on the technical side. If 2018 can repeat the success of 2017, there will be more reason to celebrate. The Energy Information Administration is forecasting 2019 to be the first year wind overtakes hydropower as the leading source of renewable electricity generation in the U.S., which suggests this year will be a busy one. We’re guessing the challenges that come with new wind development and wind-farm O&M will be met with ease, given the list of nominated candidates.
So from that list, here are the companies you readers have selected for 2017 leadership recognition:
Filed Under: Innovators & influencers
