A wide range of wind energy related topics are being discussed at the Wind Power 2009 Conference - everything from land owner rights to new technology currently being used in the state.

Wind Power 2009 is sponsored by the Nebraska Wind Working Group, a state and federal partnership funded in part by the US Department of Energy's Wind Powering America. The conference features wind experts presenting in sessions and panels about topics like small scale wind power, land issues, financing, legislation, and energy efficiency.

David Price, the Renewable Energy Development Manager for Nebraska Public Power District, said that over 450 people had registered by noon on Monday, the first day of the two-day conference.

NPPD brought a new wind measuring device with them to the conference. The mobile wind monitoring device is called the "Triton" and is manufactured by Second Wind, Inc. The United States Department of Agriculture approved a $100,000 grant to be used by NPPD to obtain three "Triton" units.

Before the "Triton" NPPD measured wind power using meteorological towers, called "met" towers for short, that can measure wind up to 60 meters above the ground. Most wind turbines used in utility wind farms are at least 80 meters tall, and the blades reach up another 45-50 meters, meaning a met tower is not able to measure the precise wind speeds a turbine is experiencing. The "Triton" measures wind speeds up to 200 meters using sound waves, making it much more accurate and efficient.

Price said it only takes a couple of people to set up the "Triton" and have it measuring wind speeds in the same day. It is powered by solar panels, and once placed can keep measuring as long as needed. NPPD is leasing the three "Triton" units for two years. The "Triton" sends sound waves up into the air, then a computer inside measures and records the wind speeds. The "Triton" can be loaded onto a pickup and trailer and taken all over the state, and that's exactly what NPPD plans to do.

"We'll be moving them around the different parts of Nebraska to help find the best wind, and therefore the lowest cost renewable energy for Nebraskans," Price said.

To hear David Price and see more of the "Triton" click on the video links above.

Price said that another part of wind energy that will benefit the entire state is the economic development that wind power is bringing. Besides rural economic development when people put small scale turbines up on their property, there is also manufacturing of everything from the tower turbines to solar tracking devices. Economic development will be one of the topics covered more in depth on Tuesday.

The conference is being held at the Holiday Inn Kearney Convention Center, one block north of Interstate 80 in Kearney. The conference continues on Tuesday with more sessions about current legislative issues, land owner rights, and small wind development. The keynote speaker on Tuesday will be Larry Flowers, national technical director of Wind Powering America at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. For more information click on the links below.