The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Recommended Practice (RP) are developed through a consensus process of interested parties by AWEA O&M Committee. These RPs represent decades of experience from the members of the AWEA O&M Committee. This expertise, often gained from other industry sectors, helps inform, train and support wind energy technicians and managers in their efforts to improve reliability and project performance. These are, in general, the nuts and bolts of wind energy power plant maintenance and operations. As the industry matures, additional maintenance strategies and operations philosophies will certainly come to the fore, however, these basics will always be required knowledge for new technicians and asset managers expanding their areas of responsibility.