Speaker: Katherine Klink, Associate Professor, Dept. of Geography, University of Minnesota

The State of Minnesota is committed to have by 2020 20% of all electricity in the state supplied by renewable energy sources. Wind power will be a large component of the state’s renewable energy portfolio. What makes Minnesota such a good place to for wind energy? What does the wind resource look like within our state? Why aren’t wind turbines everywhere? The climatology of wind shows why (and where) wind power has been pursued within Minnesota. Climatology is not the only factor, however that determines where a wind turbine can (or will) be sited, and political and non-climatic environmental factors often are just as important for wind energy development. In this presentation I discuss the climatology of wind, some possible implications of climate change for wind energy generation, and some of the broader environmental, social, and political aspects of wind energy development.

Refreshments provided.