USA - Wind turbine gives school alternative energy model

A $90,000 wind turbine project planned for the high school not only will produce some of its electricity, but is also intended to serve as a model of effective renewable energy use and as an educational resource for students. Best of all, it is free, thanks to the generosity of someone on the Island. "An anonymous donor from the community came to us with a vision for installing a wind turbine to make electricity at the high school. Our company has been involved with renewable energy for a long time, and the donor knew us," said Phil Forest, project manager from South Mountain Company (SMC), the Island business that was awarded the contract. "She has been interested in renewable energy for a long time, and she wanted to make a difference. I think it's great that she was motivated to make that difference as an educational opportunity for students."

In mid-August, Peg Regan, principal of Martha's Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS), Judi O'Donaghue, chairman of the school committee, and school superintendent James Weiss signed a contract with John Abrams, president of SMC, for the project's construction, installation, and maintenance. SMC, located in West Tisbury, is a certified dealer and installer for wind turbines manufactured by Bergey Co. in Norman, Okla. Last year, SMC installed the same residential, small-business-sized wind turbine proposed for the high school to produce electricity at its own facility. Plans call for building and installing a wind turbine with 23-foot blades atop a 100-foot tower behind the high school gymnasium. Since Oak Bluffs zoning bylaws allow a maximum tower height of 70 feet, the taller tower needed for the project requires a special permit through the zoning board of appeals. A hearing is scheduled for September 22, 6:30pm at the town hall conference room, 56 School Street, Oak Bluffs.

"We need to do that, to get the turbine up into the best, clean, strongest wind possible to make it effective," said Mr. Forest. "The tower also cannot be too high. The FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] has certain limitations because of its proximity to the Martha's Vineyard Airport. We've got it all figured out to stay below that." The wind turbine's proposed location on the high school grounds is set back at least 132 feet from any property line and far from homes. Lighting is not required and will not be used on the structure, which will be protected by a six-foot-high chain link fence. Rated to produce 10 kilowatts of electricity at wind speeds of 29 mph, the wind turbine is expected to yield an estimated 16,000 kilowatt-hours annually. Multiplying this figure times the current cost of electricity, 15 cents a kilowatt-hour, the school could save $2,400 annually.

The turbine will be connected to the high school's electrical system and grid-tied, as well. If it produces more electricity than the school needs, the electrical meter spins backwards, feeding the excess back into NSTAR's electrical grid for use by other sources. However, given that the school uses an average of 60,000 kilowatts of electricity monthly and the wind turbine produces an average of 1,388 kilowatts monthly, it is unlikely supply will exceed demand. Although the donor will cover the project's costs, SMC is responsible under the terms of its contract for applying to the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative for a state-funded small renewable initiatives rebate. The grant would provide up to $30,000 for the high school. "The high school is going to take that money and create a fund which will provide any maintenance that the wind turbine will need for its life, which is estimated at 30 years," said Mr. Forest. "It is a very simple, rugged, durable system with very few moving parts that is rated to withstand hurricane winds up to 120 miles per hour." During the first year of the wind turbine's operation, SMC will perform inspections, maintenance, and repairs at no charge. After that, the high school will pay those costs from the fund provided by the grant. If no grant money comes through, SMC is obligated to acquire at least $20,000 more from the donor for a maintenance fund.