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Wind associations from across the globe have joined forces in the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) to push for further wind power expansion. Founding members of GWEC are the wind associations of Australia, Canada, China, Europe, India, Japan and the US. GWEC's members also include associations from the EU-25, Russia, Africa, Asia, South America and New Zealand. The aim is to help with policy development, provide business leadership, transfer know-how to emerging markets and provide information about wind energy. "We are witnessing the globalisation of wind energy markets," says Arthouros Zervos, chairman of GWEC and president of the European Wind Energy Association. "GWEC's mission is to ensure that wind power establishes itself as one of the world's leading energy sources, providing substantial environmental and economic benefits across the world," he said. "Total installed wind energy generating capacity has grown 20% in 2004, and this is only the tip of the iceberg. Renewed political initiatives by the G8 could boost wind power globally; the industry is well positioned and ready for a more rapid roll out given the right political signals." At the launch of GWEC in Brussels last month, Svend Sigaard, CEO of Vestas welcomed the new lobby group as "a needed credible and representative global voice for the wind industry." He added: "We look forward to the synergies, strategies and solutions that will be created by such a mass of wind experienced individuals and corporations from all over the world."