We would like to introduce several people who had the inspiration to create the equipment that makes wind turbines work, and those with the gift to recognize a useful industry and did something to make it grow. These influencers and innovators have had such a significant impact on the wind industry that the staff of Windpower Engineering & Development would like to recognize and celebrate their success.

Windpower Engineering & Development would also like to join its readers in thanking each of these people for driving the industry to where it is today. And thanks for making the wind industry dynamic, exciting, and a great place to work.

Drs. E. Philip Krider, Martin A. Uman, Richard E. Orville, Kenneth T. Cummins, and Alburt Pifer (not pictured). Pioneers of the National Lightning Detection Network

In the early ‘80s, East Coast utilities were beginning to use the lightning data from SUNYA network to track storms, and with support from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), develop more accurate maps of lightning area density. Read more…