SED’s Ernie Pritchard Named to National Wind Turbine Certification Board

Ontario, NY – In the eight years Sustainable Energy Developments, Inc. (SED) has been in business, the company has installed 27 small wind turbines totaling nearly 300kW of wind generating capacity. Under the leadership of Founder/Owner and Director of Small Wind, Ernie Pritchard, these projects are setting a high standard for the burgeoning small wind industry. SED, under Pritchard’s direction, has developed a strict technology selection process to ensure the company’s projects meet customer expectations for energy generation and paybacks while minimizing downtime and maintenance costs. These exacting standards and demand for quality have found national recognition in Pritchard’s selection as a Board Member by the newly formed Small Wind Certification Council (SWCC).

The SWCC is an independent certification body which verifies that small wind turbines meet or exceed the requirements of the American Wind Energy Association’s (AWEA) Small Wind Turbine Performance and Safety Standard. This certification provides the first common North American standard for reporting small wind turbine energy performance and sound production in an effort to help small wind technology gain mainstream acceptance. The SWCC issues certified turbines an easy-to-understand label for Rated Annual Energy Output, Rated Power and Rated Sound Level. The label will also confirm the turbine meets the durability and safety requirements of the AWEA Standard. The SWCC plans to announce the first batch of certified wind turbines in late 2010.

Pritchard has developed and now manages the small wind sector of the company and also provides significant contributions to the company’s Operations & Maintenance and construction programs for large wind turbines. His day-to-day work and corporate guidance have helped make SED the leading community wind developer in the Northeastern United States.

Throughout his time in the wind industry, Pritchard has had a special focus on the quality of wind turbines to ensure long term performance and on the safety issues of the installation, operation and maintenance of these machines. “I take these aspects of my position very seriously and am honored to contribute to learning from and teaching others in the industry about the quality and safety of wind turbines,” said Pritchard. “I believe that my company’s knowledge of wind energy technology, participation in wind policy development at all levels as well as SEDs belief that wind turbines are a crucial part of our country’s future energy portfolio will be an excellent contribution the SWCC’s mission.”

Pritchard resides in Marion, NY with his wife Amy and their sister Emily. He is a member of the Town of Marion’s Zoning Board and is working with the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners to develop a small wind turbine installation exam. Pritchard is also a participant in the New York State Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) Wind Incentive Program as a Wind Turbine Installer and has earned a Wind Technician Training Level I & II certification to install Northern Power’s 100kW wind turbine.