Missouri Wind Energy Public Forums

During the summer of 2008, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Energy coordinated a series of three public forums, presented by video conference to enable interested persons to learn about Missouri’s wind energy resources, meet others with similar interests and consider best ways to assure that the state’s wind energy potential can serve the needs of Missourians.

The forums addressed utility scale wind development issues, including:

Because of the relatively marginal financial outlook for customer scale wind systems, the wind forums focused on utility-scale wind potentials and issues, rather than small scale wind systems.

The video conferences linked live presentations and panel discussions to participants gathered in nine cities -- Columbia, Jefferson City, Kansas City, Kirksville, Maryville, Neosho, St. Joseph, St. Louis and Springfield. The forums were held via video conference to make it possible for interested persons to attend with minimum travel time and cost, to increase participation and to reduce the cost of holding the events. People with access to personal computers and high-speed Internet connections were able to view the forums online.

Video clips and presentations from the forums remain available through the links below.

Forum #1 - Harvesting Missouri's Wind Resources

Forum #2 - Community and State Economic Impacts

Forum #3 - Wind Energy Action Options

Wind Energy - Steering Committee

To develop events with a broad appeal, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Energy assembled a steering committee to guide preparations and assist in conducting the forums. 

The Steering Committee included members from the following organizations:

Financial support for the Wind Energy Public Forums was provided by the U.S. Department of Energy’s “Wind Powering America” program, by a grant to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Division of Energy.