Founded in 2003 and based in Minneapolis, National Wind has developed utility-scale wind power projects in eight U.S. states, employing 48 office and field professionals. The company’s development portfolio exceeds 4,000 megawatts – enough power to keep the lights on in 1.2 million homes. 

National Wind achieved this scale by pioneering a business model that invests the local communities hosting wind farms as legal partners. This model involves greater community relations and financing challenges, but mastering them has enabled the company to achieve important efficiencies of scale in distributing the power its wind farms generate. The rewards: profitability, rapid growth and industry leadership.

Its innovating partnership model also proved the key to National Wind’s toughness in the face of the liquidity crisis that hit full-force in October 2008, bringing wind developments to a near-complete halt nationwide. But capital has begun moving again, says CEO Leon Steinberg, and National Wind remains well positioned to expand its footprint because of renewable energy provisions in the federal stimulus. 

Even so, says Steinberg, the US wind power industry has reached its stride in terms of growth, and in response the company’s explosive startup pace is leveling off. The big opportunities now lie in becoming more efficient. “The focus is deepening on making it better, not necessarily making it bigger.”

Why National Wind chooses Tech Guru
Innovation. Efficiency. Partnering. Sustainable operation. All have been hallmarks of National Wind’s success, and they’re also the reasons the company considers Tech Guru an essential resource. 

Having run several successful companies before starting National Wind, Steinberg places a premium on strategy and execution. No wonder he calls Tech Guru’s Enlightened IT approach “a great fit for National Wind’s operation. They get it. They know what’s a priority and what’s not. 

“We have sophisticated computing needs that include high-resource computer modeling, we’re in 12 locations and we’re highly mobile in the way we use technology. We found the Geek Squad types don’t have the capabilities and the big IT firms don’t have the flexibility. Tech Guru gives us both: the enterprise level of service and the quick response you can only get if your IT service is really invested in your success.

“Tech Guru sold us on a value proposition of always being a step ahead,” says Steinberg. “We run smoothly because they prevent 99 percent of IT problems from occurring. When an issue does arise, they stick with it until it’s solved. When we need to make a jump, they’re ready with the plan. In a company with a lot of moving parts, this is exactly what you want from a technology partner.”