Maps of wind power sites available to public

Those people who are fascinated by wind power have a new tool at their disposal in finding out new things about the growing industry. The Wind Power Trail Maps and compact discs have reached the market. According to Colorado Welcome Center Volunteer Nelda Roberts, the maps and CDs, which take travellers step by step through all of the areas at which wind power sites are located in the High Plains, reached the Welcome Centre yesterday. "We just got them in," said Roberts about the arrival of the brochures. "We haven't even had a chance to look at them ourselves, yet." The maps feature 37 different sites in Colorado, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas which have invested in wind technology of some sort. In fact, the Lamar site is the only site in Colorado featured on the map. New Mexico also has one site on the map, while Oklahoma lists seven and Texas lists 16 sites.

Welcome Center Volunteer Harry Eisenhower said the map does not exclusively feature modern wind farms like Lamar's 180 turbines, but it also has museums about wind energy, location where wind energy has been researched and the like. The companion CD features vocal description and explanation of each of the sites. In this way, anyone taking a tour of the sites can have a virtual lecture on the subject as he or she goes from site to site. Roberts said the maps and CDs will be a good addition to the welcome center's supply of material. She said there are a number of people that are very interested in wind power and she said she imagines as there is more and more stress on the subject more people will be coming to the the area with an interest in the subject. According to Barbara Presskorn of Prowers County Development Inc., the funding for the map and CD came from Colorado Green.