USA - Wind turbine data from Park Rapids now online

It took longer than expected but the wind speed, volts, amps and other data from the wind turbine at Century School is now available on line at www.prwind.org.

If you are interested in learning more about the wind turbine, a tour of the turbine is planned Tuesday, May 20.

The Central Regional Clean Energy Resource Team (CERT) will be meeting in Park Rapids that evening for pizza and to learn more about this inspirational community endeavor and other clean energy projects around the region.

CERT awarded several grants to the Park Rapids School District to move construction of the wind turbine forward and to integrate the project into the science curriculum.

With funding help from the Central Region CERT and other organizations, the school district was able to install a 20-killowatt Jacobs turbine in the winter of 2007.

Shawn Anderson, chairman of the Wind Generated Energy Committee of Park Rapids, and others will give a presentation about the 20 kwh wind project after the group visits the turbine.

“This project is a great example of how communities can come together and create hands-on learning opportunities in the fields of math, science and clean energy,” Anderson says.

“We hope that people will take away the message that the benefits of community clean energy projects stretch far beyond their fiscal return. It's about teaching our children the value of environmental stewardship, doing what we can to leave them with the clean air and water we've enjoyed.”

The 20-minute tour will start at 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 20 at the turbine south of Monico Lane west of the Century School. Afterward, participants will go to the Frank White Education Center).

There is no cost, but an RSVP is required for pizza. Contact Joel Haskard, CERTs coordinator at 612-625-8759 or by e-mail at haska004@umn.edu.

Initiated in 2003, CERTs are a collaborative effort of the University of Minnesota Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships, Minnesota Department of Commerce, the Minnesota Project, Green Institute, the Southwest Regional Development Commission and community members from across the state.