Windpower 2006 opened today in Pittsburgh. Organized by the American Wind Energy Association, North America's largest wind energy conference and exhibition is expected to have more than 4,500 attendees and 280 exhibitors. The event brings together leading industry professionals from around the world for three days of conferences and an interactive tradeshow. As a point of interest, this year's trade show takes place at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, a cutting edge facility awarded Gold LEED certification by the US Green Building Council. It claims to be the first "green" convention center in the US and the world's largest green building. Environmentally-friendly attributes include exhibit halls that are 75 percent naturally lit, the use of recycled and non-toxic materials and natural ventilation. Wind energy has experienced tremendous growth in recent years but still has a long way to go to make a significant contribution to the nation's energy needs.