Wind Energy

“Higher is better in almost every single case,” says Ron Stimmel, small wind advocate for the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). “You get above the tree line and house line and the wind can really stretch its legs. Even small increases in wind speed mean exponentially more power. So it is always worth it to get the tallest towers you can.” Contrary to popular belief, turbines are not unbearably loud. “They’re about as loud as a refrigerator,” Stimmel says. “The sound they make is usually masked by the sound of the wind itself.” The Proven Energy 2.5-kilowatt turbine stands up to 36 feet tall and reaches 11 feet in diameter. This model can power a three-bedroom home, excluding the heating system. Homeowner Considerations The only DIY part of a turbine installation is finding and hiring the right wind power company. Which company you choose will depend on your geographic location, the size of turbine you want and pricing. A list of commercially proven providers can be found on the AWEA Web site. Finding an unobstructed locale for your turbine will help you harness the most energy. “If you are in a mountainous area and your property is down at the bottom of a very steep sided valley, it is probably not a good place for a wind turbine,” says Paul Gipe, author of Wind Power: Renewable Energy for Home, Farm and Business. “But if your property is on top of a ridge or on a wind swept great plain or in a cornfield in the Midwest, yes, then—it might make sense.” The Wind Powering America Wind Resources Web site can help you determine whether your area has the recommended 9 miles per hour minimum wind speed. How big a turbine you need depends on how much energy you use, but most one-family homes require a 5- to 15-kilowatt unit. Most homeowners with a single turbine will want to remain “on the grid” and have municipal electricity as a backup source. This is because in most parts of the country, wind speeds decrease in the summertime, and having a backup power source reduces the risks of brownouts and blackouts. To be completely off-grid, you’ll need to eschew central air and electric heat, which are the home’s two biggest energy guzzlers. Going completely “off grid” is possible with wind energy. But keep in mind that wind systems generally generate less electricity during the hot summer months, meaning you’d have to have a backup system to maintain power to your home. Backup batteries can store wind energy, but most banks can save three days worth of energy at most. Diesel-powered generators are another option. You can purchase a single turbine for personal use or, if you own large acreage such as a farm or ranch, you can put up several turbines and create a wind farm. Some local electricity companies will pay to lease farmland for turbines, making this a possible source of income if you have enough land. Even if you only have a single turbine, you might be able to sell unused energy back to your local utility company. Programs vary by provider, so contact your local electric company to find out more about these plans. Considering all these factors—environmental, cost-saving and even profit-making—expect to see more and more turbines dotting the landscapes in years to come. The number of units grew 14 percent in 2007, according to the AWEA. That group is lobbying, along with turbine manufacturers, for a federal tax credit similar to that afforded to solar systems. And if it passes, experts say you can expect to see more and more turbines dotting the landscape.

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