Wind power is a plentiful source of renewable energy in our region. Wind turbines now supply only about 1 percent of worldwide energy use, but wind energy has increased fivefold between 2000 and 2007.
Wind harvested in three of our 50 states could provide enough power for the whole country, and offshore wind farms could supply the same amount, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Wind power has become attractive to investors as oil prices rise, and many homeowners are exploring small-scale turbines as a potential home power source.
These smaller turbines (100 kilowatts and less) can lower your electric bill by 50 to 90 percent. Some owners of wind-powered homes claim utility bills around $10 for large parts of the year. Most wind turbine owners recoup the cost of their investment in six to 15 years, then enjoy free electricity for the life of the turbine (20 or more years).
The most positive factor about small-scale wind power is that wind turbines produce no pollution and, by using wind power, you will be offsetting climate change.
Most home-sized wind turbines are produced in America:
Chicago-based Aerotecture International offers rooftop turbines starting at $3,000. California-based PacWind also offers a model at $3,000. Arizona-based Southwest Wind Power produces SkyStream, a streamlined 2 kw home wind turbine designed to provide quiet, clean electricity in very low winds. These lightweight (170 pounds) turbines look sleek on their 33-foot poles and cost around $8,000 installed. New York State Energy Research and Development Authority offers incentives to offset up to half of the installed costs. However, there are no federal incentives.
Want to switch to wind power?
- Calculate wind velocity at the proposed site by checking the latitude and longitude at www.windexplorer.com.
- Find out if you are eligible for incentives to help offset the cost of a wind turbine. Visit www.powernaturally.org/programs/wind/incentives.
- Gather your electric bills, or go online with your utility, and estimate your annual electricity usage in kilowatt hours and the total dollar amount paid for that same period.
- Have a home energy audit to determine how you can lower your monthly electricity usage. Take the auditor's recommendations, and reduce your energy use as much as possible before pricing wind turbines.
- Locate a wind turbine installer near you and schedule a site assessment. A trustworthy installer will help you find the right sized turbine at the right price to meet your needs. www.sourceguides.com
- What if you can't make a wind turbine work for you? You can buy wind energy through most utility companies by purchasing wind energy credits. Check with your local utility, or try www.nativeenergy.com, where you can power your home with wind energy for about $15 per month on top of your utility bill.
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I am putting one in a my home this summer. It is fairly windy here in osuthern Idaho, and I calculate that I can recoup my investment within 5 years.