Wind Power– A Community Development Opportunity Andrew Perchlik Renewable Energy Vermont (REV)

Wind Power - An Age-Old Energy Source

Do we have an energy problem?

Community Wind Solutions  Small Wind (100kW machines and under) Require 9 mph average wind speed Home owners 10 kW 1,500 kW

Community Wind Solutions  Community wind –Northern Power’s 100kW turbine –Rebuilt Utility turbines up to 250kW –Net metered, under 200 feet tall

Community Wind Solutions  Wind Farms –Provide wholesale bulk power –Require 13- mph average wind sites at the minimum Community Wind Solutions

Wind farm images Austria MW Little Equinox simulation

Rated Capacity 25 kW1,650 kW Rotor Diameter 10 meters71 meters Cost per kW $2,600$790 Output, MWh/year 455, = 120 X the energy at 20 X the cost Technology Advances and Scale Economies Drive Down Cost

Wind Power Costs Project Size Assuming the same wind speed, a larger wind farm is more economical Wind Power Costs Project Size

Wind Power Costs Wind Speed Assuming the same size project, the better the wind resource, the lower the cost

Wind cannot compete with nothing... But nothing is not a real choice Energy policy is all about choices and their consequences Have an Energy Policy

Energy Planning  Are we currently planning for the best use of our wind resource?  What is the current plan for the use of our energy resources?

Energy-shed Planning  Town and regional plans should include mapping and inventories of their natural energy resources – their ‘energy sheds” – which would include the wind resource.  By not planning for the use of natural energy resources, like the wind, we are accepting the status quo and abdicating our energy choices to others.