FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wind Energy America Inc. Announces Executive Appointments – CEO Mel Wentz, CDO Brian Hill and CFO Colin Jackson
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Tuesday November 24th 2009 – The Board of Directors of Wind Energy America Inc. (“WEA”) today is pleased to announce three outstanding executive appointments; Mel Wentz, incoming Chief Executive Officer, Brian Hill, incoming Chief Development Officer and Colin Jackson, incoming Chief Financial Officer.
Mel Wentz has over 30 years of diversified experience in engineering, construction, project development and financing of engineered facilities and power generation projects. He has extensive experience in management, administration, financial analysis, project financing, and asset management of cogeneration and independent power plants. He earned a B.S. in civil engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and a M.B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh.
Mr. Wentz was first engaged as an advisor to Wind Energy America in September 2009. During the period leading to his appointment as Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Wentz played an integral role accelerating the companies efforts to commission and operate its existing wind farm assets and in refining and implementing the Company’s wind energy development strategies and initiatives as well as. He was appointed to the board of directors of WEA on October 1, 2009.
Prior to his association with WEA, Mr. Wentz was most recently CEO of Novairus Energy LLC of Winnetka, IL and Palm Renewable Ventures of Greenwich, CT. During his tenure at Novairus and Palm, Mr. Wentz was responsible for recruiting management personnel and forming strategic relationships with other renewable energy companies to build a portfolio of renewable energy projects.
Mr. Wentz was previously President of TXU Development, a wholly owned subsidiary of TXU. He was involved in the structuring and financing of over 200 MW of wind energy projects, has joint ventured to develop a 300 MW geothermal plant in Indonesia, developed three coal-fired generation projects in China (386 MW) and developed and sold a 250 MW gas-fired plant in India. In addition, Mr. Wentz has managed a portfolio of 10+ operating projects including wind, biomass, coal and gas-fired generating plants
Brian Hill also joined Wind Energy America in September 2009 in an advisory capacity focused upon commissioning the Company’s existing wind energy assets so they can generate revenue and spearheaded the development of new wind farm projects for Wind Energy America. Mr. Hill has 25 years of energy industry experience and was co-founder and Chief Development Officer of Novairus Energy LLC, a wind energy development company. He was appointed to the board of directors of WEA on October 1, 2009.
From 1984 to 1999, Mr. Hill held a number of management positions with Commonwealth Edison Company (Exelon). In 1999 Mr. Hill began consulting to independent power producers developing power plants throughout the U.S. and Central America. During the period before co-founding Novairus Energy, Mr. Hill helped place 1030.4 MW of wind energy into service. He has participated in the development of an additional 300 MW of peaking capacity that is currently in service and has developed power projects in over 20 states. Mr. Hill is recognized as an expert in power development and has published and presented papers at several industry conferences. Mr. Hill earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI and a M.B.A. from Loyola University, Chicago, IL.
Colin Jackson joined Wind Energy America in an advisory capacity in September 2009 where he focused upon improving the Company’s management, financial and corporate structures and business strategy. Mr. Jackson was co-founder and Chief Financial Officer of Novairus Energy LLC, a firm focused on early stage wind development projects. In addition to WEA, Mr. Jackson has also previously served in executive capacities with other public companies including Whitney Information Network, Inc., EduTrades, Inc. and Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation.
From 1989 to 1998, Mr. Jackson held financial positions with The Times Mirror Corporation and Exxon Corporation, and was Manager of Corporate Finance for Campbell Soup Company. Mr. Jackson began his career as a CPA in the Los Angeles office of Deloitte and Touche. Mr. Jackson earned a B.A. in Economics from the University of California at Los Angeles and a M.B.A. from The Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.
Wind Energy America’s Board of Directors, Donald Blakstad, Chairman and Constantine Buzunis, Director, issued the following statement:
“The continued advancement of Wind Energy America, from the time of our acquisition of developer’s interest in several wind farms, through the ongoing development of our growing portfolio of wind power generation projects, to today’s executive appointments of Mel Wentz, Brian Hill and Colin Jackson, indicates the promise of growth for this business, and helps validate our beliefs and statements regarding its ultimate success. We anticipate a quick and seamless transition as Mr. Wentz. Mr. Hill and Mr. Jackson assume their executive responsibilities as newly appointed corporate officers.”
About Wind Energy America Inc.
Wind Energy America is one of a select few publicly traded companies in America exclusively operating and developing clean, renewable, utility scale, wind energy. Through a wholly-owned subsidiary,Wind Energy America owns developer's interests in three wind farms on Buffalo Ridge in southwest Minnesota which contain 79 wind turbines totaling 53.46 megawatts (Mw) of capacity, enough to power approximately 14,000 average American homes. In addition WEA owns the Midwest Center for Wind Energy, located in the heart of Buffalo Ridge. The Company has commenced work at its Sibley, Iowa and Hendricks, Minnesota wind projects all located on the Buffalo Ridge, and currently anticipates generating 5.6 MW of new wind power upon their completion. In addition, the Company continues its work assessing the feasibility of wind power project opportunities in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Wyoming and various western States.
For more information visit our website www.windenergyamerica.com
Wind Energy America
Notice regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release relating to Wind Energy America’s plans, strategies, economic performance and trends, projections of results of specific activities, and other statements that are not descriptions or historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward- looking information is subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, which include, but are not limited to, risk factors inherent in Wind Energy America’s business. This press release cautions that Wind Energy America must undertake and complete many steps in the development model before the generation of wind energy can commence. Among the numerous items which have to be completed in this regard include, without limitation, obtaining pertinent agreements and permits, construction of project facilities, satisfying financial requirements and other burdens.
Contact:
Wind Energy America
1-952-746-1234
