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Minnesota Wind Industry Ready to Capitalize on Key Tax Bill Provisions

New online directory, REDI Resources, brings more visibility to major players

Monday, December 20, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Click here to download a PDF of this release

Media Contact:
Dan Thiede
REDI Resources Communications Manager
info@rediresources.org or 612-626-0556

Mon., December 20, 2010, St. Paul, MN – The tax bill that President Obama signed last Friday is very good news for Minnesota’s renewable energy industries. The bill includes a one-year extension of the U.S. Department of Treasury Section 1603 grant program. A minor provision in the overall tax bill, the renewable energy grant program has been the main driver for the strong growth of U.S. renewable energy in 2010—Minnesota included.

“Stable policies and incentives are critical to keep the renewable industry moving forward in not only Minnesota, but across the U.S. and in the global market, as well,” says Cheryl Glaeser, Program Officer at the Southwest Initiative Foundation.

The recent extension continues what began with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, when a 30 percent cash rebate became available to commercial developers of renewable energy systems in lieu of tax credits. The U.S. Department of Treasury Section 1603 grant program has supported thousands of jobs and thousands of megawatts of clean energy over the past two years. Many in the wind and solar industries believed that planned projects couldn’t be built without the program, because they wouldn’t have sufficient financial backing.

American Wind Energy Association CEO Denise Bode called extension of the grant program a “great day for American workers.” She continued, “Factories across the country will restart production lines, recall workers, and avoid layoffs that would have followed the loss of this key incentive for wind energy. With consistent policies like this one, wind energy can generate 20 percent of America’s electricity within 20 years, and employ half a million Americans.”

Many of the companies in the wind industry that depend on the recently extended U.S. Department of Treasury Section 1603 grant program can be found on a new Minnesota-based online directory called REDI Resources. For those that want to learn more about what the wind industry looks like in Minnesota, REDI Resources is the perfect place to discover the players. For those planning, implementing, or managing projects, there could not be a simpler way to find exactly the resources you need. And for those serving the industry, REDI Resources provides an easy and effective way to be found.

Visit www.REDIresources.org to get started!

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REDI Resources is an online directory featuring businesses and organizations who serve Minnesota’s clean energy industry. Visit www.REDIresources.org to find the resources you need to help you plan, implement, and manage clean energy projects! This long-term resource is provided through the collaborative efforts of the Southwest Initiative Foundation, Clean Energy Resource Teams, The Minnesota Project, and Windustry.  For more information, visit www.REDIresources.org.

REDI Resources Website Public Launch

Friday, March 19, 2010

REDI Resources has just gone public! Help us spread the word! Click here to send an email about REDI Resources.

Preview of email:

REDI Resources is your clean energy project builder! Everyone: Find companies that can help you plan & implement your projects Companies: Let Minnesotans know you’re making your mark in clean energy REDI Resources is poised to be the premier online company directory for Minnesotans who want to plan clean energy projects, beginning with wind! We're pleased to officially announce its release! What is REDI Resources? REDI Resources is an online directory featuring companies all over the United States who serve Minnesota’s clean energy industry. With plans to expand into other technologies in the future, the directory is currently focused on wind energy. For those planning projects, there could not be a simpler way to find companies who provide exactly the services you need. For companies in the industry, there could not be an easier way to be found and expand your portfolio. Check out the site now at www.rediresources.org. Find Companies: The REDI Resources directory allows you to browse companies; to search by specific services like engineering, operations & maintenance, or legal services; to find companies near you using geographic search; and to find companies through a range of other details like service area, number of employees, or completed project capacity. Visit the directory at www.rediresources.org/directory. Create a Portfolio: Once you have found companies that you want to follow up with you can create a portfolio that allows you to tag them, organize them, and export your lists to a PDF. Compiling a list of qualified companies for your request for proposals just got a whole lot easier! Create an account and get started at www.rediresources.org/user/register. Be Found: There are currently around forty companies in the REDI Resources directory—there could not be a better time to add your company! Add your company right now at www.rediresources.org/add-company by following our four simple steps. We will have you create an account, change your password, add your company, then add at least one office location—that’s all! A sample screen shot from the REDI Resources directory: Did we mention it’s free? REDI Resources is a completely free service for those planning projects or for companies who want to be found. Who is behind REDI Resources? REDI is short for the Rural Energy Development Initiative, a statewide program administered by the Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF). The goal of REDI is to maximize rural economic development and stabilize rural economies by building renewable energy capacity, expertise and leadership throughout Minnesota. The Southwest Initiative Foundation is launching REDI Resources in partnership with The Minnesota Project, Windustry and the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs).