130 likes | 239 Views
Wind energy team. Members. Irene Shonle Dennis Kaan Mike Kostrzewa, PE, Director, CSU Wind Application Center Rebecca Cantwell, Colorado Harvesting Energy network. What is the potential of wind?.
E N D
Members • Irene Shonle • Dennis Kaan • Mike Kostrzewa, PE, Director, CSU Wind Application Center • Rebecca Cantwell, Colorado Harvesting Energy network
What is the potential of wind? • The U.S. Department of Energy has announced a goal of obtaining 6% of U.S. electricity from wind by 2020 • Wind power could provide 20% of U.S. electricity needs by 2030
Is my site windy enough? • Evaluating resource is first and most important step • Anemometer loan program data • www.engr.colostate.edu/ALP/ALP_Sites.htm • Wind map
Turbine siting important • Tower height • Trees/other objects need to be at least 300 feet away
Scale of wind • Small wind: for home owners, small businesses to offset electrical usage • Big wind – leasing land to a wind developer can provide farmers/ranchers with steady income • 95% of land still useable • Need at least 60 acres per megawatt
Emerging – Community wind • Municipalities, large organizations own their own turbines • Local jobs, local benefits • Only example in CO right now is of Lamar and Springfield “piggybacking” onto large wind farm • Presence of large farm allowed these towns to buy five 1.5 MW turbines • NECO wind in Sedgwick, Philips, and Logan Counties will soon construct 400 MW Farm
Potential issues • Zoning • Varies by county, municipality • Wildlife • Noise • Viewshed • Transmission (big wind only) • Difficult to find good information, independent testing
To learn more: • Come to agent training in spring (TBA) • February? Eastern Plains? • In-depth resources on website • http://www.ext.colostate.edu/energy/wind.html • New fact sheets • Small wind - finished • Big wind -under review • Understanding wind resources -under development
Upcoming from team • Working on national wind curriculum with 8 other states • Wind webinars • more fact sheets on eXtension • Small wind turbine to be installed outside Gilpin Extension Office