|
Wind power initiative looks to take flight |
|
|
|
Thursday, 28 February 2008 |
 Brent Summerville, EPA manager in the department of technology, holds a wind turbine blade. Photo by Anna Donlan
|
by MEGAN NAYLOR
Intern News Reporter
In the near future, green power companies, the Western North Carolina (WNC) Renewable Energy Initiative and N.C. Small Wind Initiative hope to make wind power a reality.
As most students at Appalachian State University and local residents of the High Country know, the region is no stranger to high wind speeds.
“Wind energy has no hidden impacts, and you can actually see the difference they are making while
watching them turn in the wind,” said Brent Summerville, director for the Small Wind Initiative at
Appalachian. “We want to help create an energy-sustainable future for this region, to benefit both the environment and the economy."
The Small Wind Initiative hopes to take advantage of the high wind in the High Country by educating
the public in small wind turbine systems and assisting in getting turbines set up locally, according to
the N.C. Wind Energy Web site.
Wind energy and wind turbines are suited best for the mountains and the coastal regions, seeing that
those areas attract the majority of wind.
“Wind turbines simply work by converting wind into energy through a generator,” Summerville said.
“Wind energy is a renewable green energy source that incurs no fuel costs, needs no natural resources
to fuel it, boosts local and state economy, creates jobs, needs very little maintenance, and creates
energy without creating pollution.”
Wind turbines have two different scale sizes - small scale (often called home or farm scale) and
large/utility scale turbines.
Small-scale turbines are typically used for residential homes, farms and small businesses, while the
utility scale size is generally connected to an electric grid and is essentially a green power plant.
Small-scale turbines typically produce 100 kilowatts or less, but the amount of electricity produced
varies depending on the electricity needs of the site and the laws pertaining to the state, according to
the N.C. Wind Energy Web site.
People who choose the small scale approach to wind energy generally keep their homes or businesses
tied into a direct grid tie system, meaning when there is no wind available, their buildings energy needs
can be met by running off the grid, Summerville said.
 A current installation of a wind measurement tower in Watauga County. Special to The Appalachian
|
“Using a battery system is an alternative option to a grid connection in case of a lack of wind, and
simply stores the energy until it is needed in battery form,” Summerville said.
The cost for a small-scale turbine can range anywhere from $12,000 to $45,000, depending on the
amount of electricity needed for the building(s).
Utility scale turbines, which are often part of large wind farms, cost around $2,000,000 each and need
50 acres per turbine, according to the N.C. Wind Energy Web site.
“We foresee that the coal based energy companies will be charged in the future for their carbon
emissions, which will make wind energy even more popular in the future,” Summerville said.
“We hope to empower people to know how to take the appropriate steps in starting a wind project of
their own,” he said.
Those interested in getting involved or setting up a turbine of their own should contact the Small Wind
Initiative at 262-7333 or
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Trackback(0)
 |
News 
TrackBack URI for this entry
Show/Hide comments
