"Build it in Michigan," shouts the headline from a new brochure printed by NextEnergy, the state of Michigan's alternative energy promotion group. NextEnergy used 1,000 copies of the report to tout Michigan's future as a wind energy equipment manufacturing center at last week's Windpower 2007 Conference and Exhibition, the world's largest annual wind energy event, which was held in Los Angeles.

"There's no better state in which to design, manufacture and assemble wind turbine components than Michigan," the brochure asserts. "Michigan offers unmatched national leadership in the technology and manufacturing sectors, as well as an established network of suppliers, and generous incentives to meet your needs."

The brochure points out that Michigan is ranked fourth among the states in an objective study of states best equipped to manufacture wind power components, as well as Michigan's No. 1 ranking in research and development investment relative to gross state product.

The brochure also offers a list of 35 companies involved in wind industry supply, from controls companies to manufacturers of machined, cast and forged components.

The response to the brochure at the AWEA conference was strong, said Dan Radomski, director of industry services at NextEnergy. He said he used the brochures when talking with contacts in the wind power manufacturing supply chain. "They were literally circling companies that they wanted to meet with due to the supply chain challenges," Radomski said. "Unbelievable growth is expected in the wind industry."

The Windpower 2007 conference featured more than 6,000 attendees and wind energy professionals, who reviewed more than 400 exhibitors' displays in a 91,000-square-foot exhibition hall, as well as dozens of educational sessions on business, policy, scientific, technical, policy and financial topics.

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