The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WALLA WALLA - When Duane Wollmuth travels to Anaheim, Calif., later this month, it won't be to get a break from Southeast Washington's cold and rainy spring.

Wollmuth and two other members of a new partnership will go down there to sell businesses from around the country on a different weather feature prevalent in this corner of the state, or at least the industry that takes advantage of its energy: wind.

Attending the American Wind Energy Association 2011 Wind Expo is one for the first activities to be undertaken by a new alliance created to promote the region's renewable energy resources in five counties: Columbia, Walla Walla, Whitman, Asotin and Garfi eld.

The alliance, called the Southeast Washington Renewable Energy District (SEWRED), is a partnership of the Port of Walla Walla and Wollmuth's organization, the Southeast Washington Economic Development Association in collaboration with the Energy Systems Technology program at Walla Walla Community College.

It makes sense if you consider the state is the country's fourth largest for wind energy projects and this corner of it is home to 10 wind farm projects - in operation, under construction or in permitting.

That kind of critical mass is worth pitching to companies in the industry that could base their services or supply businesses here and help the creation of new jobs in a field with a future. Four of the five counties covered by the alliance have wind farms and more than 150 permanent operations jobs.

"This alliance recognizes that our economic prosperity is linked regionally and with limited financial resources, working strategically as a region to attract additional renewable energy investments is the right approach," said Mike Fredrickson, Port of Walla Walla president.

While the alliance wants to develop all forms of renewable energy - from solar to bio fuels (including straw) - its first focus will be on the wind industry. Though it isn't in a position to recruit wind farms for major utility companies, the alliance can try to recruit those firms that support the farms once they're up and running.

The operation of wind farms requires ongoing service and maintenance, meaning that wholesale parts, lubrication and repair companies will be needed more and more as the local industry continues to grow.

At present, many of these needs are filled by companies located elsewhere in the country or internationally, Wollmuth said. Why not encourage them to expand, relocate or start up here?

To further help develop the economies of the five counties, the alliance will also help existing local companies network within the industry to broaden their business opportunities, he said.

The second initial activity of the alliance is its creation of a website (www.SEWRED.com) listing wind energy and related businesses here.

A major draw for industry players in the five-county area is Walla Walla Community College's wind energy technology training program for operations and maintenance technicians.

"The program attracts students from the local area, as well as elsewhere," said James Bradshaw, director of the Energy Systems Technology program. "These students graduate with the skills necessary to fill many of the well-paying familywage jobs needed to support and service the operation of the region's wind farms."

The alliance has already helped businesses in the region be more connected through its recent tour of the Lower Snake River Wind Energy Project in Garfield County for Whitman County businesses expecting to benefit from the proposed Palouse Wind Farm.