Wind workshop provides thought provoking ideas
By Mary Holle

Is wind-generated energy going to fuel the residences, farms and businesses in the county in the future?

Discussion of this possibility was provided in a whirlwind of a workshop Sept. 6 at the Rawlins County 4-H building.

Chris Sramek, Rawlins County Economic Develop-ment director, estimated about 80 people showed up to learn about small wind generators. Several people from Central Kansas attended, along with representatives from Midwest Energy, Inc., and Prairie Land Electric.

"I was very intrigued by the workshop which was very interesting," Mark Wolters, Rawlins County Schools superintendent, said. "I was hoping the costs of the units would sound better with a sooner pay-back time, though."

In addition to Wolters, several school board members also attended the afternoon workshop. Deciding whether to begin with a small turbine for educational purposes or go with a larger unit for energy generation is what the board will be looking at, he said.

"It's an idea that has to have possibilities out here as an energy source," Wolters said. The first part of the workshop was very technical, with guest speakers explaining generator types, costs and comparisons of models.

Then Jim Green, senior project leader of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Wind Powering America group, addressed questions concerning technology and policy considerations.

"I don't think zoning is going to be a problem in Kansas," he said. But he recommended finding out all of the rules and regulations concerning installation before purchasing a wind generator.

Green also recommended having an interconnection agreement with the power company before installing a unit.

"They will mandate compliance with accepted standards," he said. "The agreement will also address liability insurance." Green explained the difference between energy and power.

"Power is the rate at which energy is used," he said. "Energy is a quantity, like distance. Power times time is energy."

He also explained the difference in an energy tariff compared to a demand tariff charged by the utility company.

Charles Newcomb of Entegrity Wind Systems, Inc., provided information about current financial incentives. "There's not much in Kansas," he said.

In the United States Department of Agriculture farm bill section 9006, there are grants and loan guarantees available for farms, ranches and small businesses, but not residential homes at this time, Newcomb said. There are six ingredients to determine the feasibility of small wind turbines.

"The first ingredient is the wind source," Newcomb said. "According to the Kansas wind speed map, that doesn't look like it'd be a problem here."

The second ingredient is having a good site with few obstructions to the wind flow. Third, a person needs to research the technology.

"Make sure the turbine is going to last," he said. "Look at product history, but don't discount new products." Good maintenance is the fourth ingredient, New-comb said.

"Without maintenance, even the best equipment will fail," he said.

Financial viability and the ability to pay for a turbine are the fifth and sixth ingredients to consider before buying a wind generator.

"Wind energy can provide a hedge against rising energy costs," Newcomb said. "It can compete with the retail costs of electricity; can generate savings for schools; and can change your attitude about wind.

"Now when it's dirty and the wind is blowing dust and debris, you don't like the wind," he said. "But when you're making money on that wind, you're saying, 'Blow, Baby.'"

Also during the workshop, "Farmer" Bill of Hereford, Texas demonstrated a small hydrogen motor that he had built. He suggested that hydrogen was the energy of the future and that farmers should use wind to produce it.

"Now when it's dirty and the wind is blowing dust and debris, you don't like the wind...but when you're making money on that wind, you're saying, 'Blow, Baby.'"        - Charles Newcomb Entegrity Wind Systems, Inc.