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Eric Chamberlain

Wind Farm Manager | Rock Port, Mo.

The sign at the entrance to the town of Rock Port, Mo., reads: "Proud Past & A Bold Future." Eric Chamberlain is part of both.

He was born in the area, where farming is integral to its heritage, and was instrumental in convincing Wind Capital Group and John Deere Credit to invest in wind turbines for the area, which will help power its future.

"We can build these projects in this county and produce far more energy than we need for homes and businesses here," Chamberlain says, "so we're exporting a product from above these fields just like we export corn and soybeans from the fertile ground below it."

When Wind Capital Group asked him to help develop the Loess Hills installation and another $80 million wind farm located nearby in Atchison County, Chamberlain recalls with a smile, "It was a pretty easy answer for me to get involved."

Now, Chamberlain has a key management position with the group, which allows the 54-year-old to provide more comfortably for his family (which includes two college-age children), enjoy sound health care benefits and plan for retirement.

He also wants to help young people in his community plan for a future as part of the clean energy economy that the wind turbines represent.

"We're working with Northwest Missouri State University and North Central Community College to start the process of developing training programs," he says.

"These are the first few wind farms in Missouri, and there is no pool of trained technicians ready to go to work. As more and more of these projects are built, there's going to be an increased job demand, so the educational industry is already taking this on."

By helping bring wind power to rural Missouri, Chamberlain didn't just ensure a job for himself. He helped ensure a brighter future for his community and the next generation.

last revised 6/11/2009