HOSTING A BLADE EVENTHOSTING A BLADE EVENT

Wind Farms make for great media events with powerful visuals.

BUT are often located in very rural or isolated locations

A “Blade Event” is a method to bring the visual of a wind farm to the media.

BUT they are one of the most complex media events that you can organize.

Special thanks to Community Energy, Inc.

Here are some Hints for organizing a Blade Event:

Work early to get support from ALL involved parties. You simply can not do this without the support of everyone from the trucking company to the developer to the Utility. Moving a blade is expensive and complex.

EVERY street, road, highway, corner, bridge, underpass, rail-road track, speed-bumb has to be taken into consideration. Have someone actually drive each part of the route prior to sending out the blade to outline a safe and successful map and make sure the blade will fit!

Start EARLY, the permiting process for where the blade will be set up for the day/night etc.. is lengthy, involved, expensive, and extensive.

If you can be your own leading/trailing "watch/car" you'll save dollars $$!

If the blade has come a long way, you may want to get there early to rinse it off, so its gleaming!

Children and a wind turbine blade are always a great picture for future use! Organize some sort of educational, brownie troop wind purchase. This is your chance to make the TV reporters drool!

Invest in a good camera/photographer, these pictures can go a LONG way! Plan to follow up the Blade Event with a tour of the farm when it is complete.

Invite all the important people like the Governor, Mayor,etc.. make sure they make some sort of promotional, feel good, endorsing speech... Can a govt. org. be a featured new customer?

For More Information:Gil Melear-HoughTennessee Director of Renewable ProgramsSouthern Alliance for Clean Energygil@cleanenergy.org(865) 637-6055 ext. 15