Making wind power work
SLIPPERY ROCK — Interest ran high Saturday in learning about making "green" electricity from wind power at Slippery Rock University's Wind Power 101 workshops.
Joe and Lisa DiFrancisco, renewable energy experts from North Coast Energy Systems, explained how wind turbines work and gave a tour of the 2.5 kilowatt-hour wind turbine at SRU's Robert A. Macoskey Center for Sustainable Systems Education and Research.
"We've had a huge response to this. I have 42 people on a waiting list," said Thomas Reynolds, director of the Macoskey center.
Lisa DiFrancisco said she was expecting 15 to 20 people. Instead, more than 100 people registered for the workshop. A morning session had 30 people and 35 more joined the afternoon session.
"We're going to have more of these workshops in the future based solely on demand," Reynolds said.
Contractors and homeowners looking to cut energy costs signed up for the classes as well as business owners and government officials interested in cost cutting and tax write-off possibilities.
"It's basically everything you need to know before you call a contractor or wind turbine manufacturer," Reynolds said of the course.
The cost of having a wind turbine installed varies depending on the system type and size.
A standalone, storage battery-equipped 1 kilowatt-hour turbine, capable of producing 80 to 120 kwh of energy per month can cost about $15,000. A 10 kwh grid-direct system, which channels extra energy to the customer's electrical meter and off his bill, can produce 1,800 kwh per month and cost $80,000.
The 2.5 kwh turbine tower at the Macoskey Center drew the attention of Slippery Rock resident Garret Lauten.
"Seeing the thing all the time, I've got a feeling of intrigue. I feel responsible to learn this," Lauten said.
The 24-year-old Virginia native was accompanied by his brother, Peter, who also is interested in alternative energies.
"This is one of the few programs that integrates practices with course work," Garret Lauten said of SRU.
The class of wind in Allegheny, Butler and Mercer counties is rated about a two out of a possible seven. Wind class is based on the average annual wind speeds at a given tower height.
Two is the minimum necessary to use a small turbine, averaging about 10 mph wind speeds at 33 feet high and 12.5 mph at 164 feet high.
Comparatively, winds at SRU's hilltop site of its wind turbine are rated a three, and winds off the shore of Lake Erie register a five.
"The best sites are completely clear within 500 feet of the tower in all directions, with even terrain high above its neighbors. Very few sites meet all those conditions," Lisa DiFrancisco said.
Course participants scribbled intently in their wind design workbooks.
"Once people realize what's being talked about, they are very interested," Joe DiFrancisco said.
Lisa DiFrancisco said although wind resources in southwestern Pennsylvania are relatively low, rising utility costs will make wind energy a more viable energy source here.In addition to a free mini wind power workshop the Macoskey Center will offer during its Earth Day celebration April 19, another full wind power workshop will be scheduled in May."We use this center as a teaching tool and a sustainability site," said Reynolds, who has directed the facility since 2000 with student volunteers as his only workers.The 83-acre center has programs for elementary through college students. It has a small organic farm and handles municipal composting for Slippery Rock Township in addition to its wind power generation.
