Montana Wind Power Pub

Photo by Mar-

Photo by Martin Wilde

Montana Wind PowerA Consumer’s Guide to Harnessing the Wind

Montana Wind Power—A Consumer’s Guide to Harnessing the Windwas made possible by support from NorthWestern Energy’sUniversal Systems Benefits (USB) charge, paid by allNorthWestern Energy customers.

One goal of USB goal is to encourage the development ofrenewable energy projects that use environmentally friendly— or “green” — technology to generate electricity. Inter-ested in learning more? Visit NorthWestern Energy’s websiteat www.northwesternenergy.com.

You can also learn more about wind energy and other renew-able energy sources at MontanaGreenPower.org.

The primary source for this publication is Small Wind EnergySystems, published in April 1999 by the Minnesota Departmentof Commerce.

Photo creditsThis page: NRELFront cover: Martin Wilde

Coyote Energy, Inc.4490 Trumble Creek RdColumbia Falls, MT 59912(406) 892-1313 phone/[email protected]

Revised December 2004


Contents


Introduction............................................................................................1

How can wind power work for you?.......................................................2

How much electricity will a wind machine produce?..............................2

Do you have a good site?........................................................................7

Zoning restrictions and insurance.........................................................11

Wind system costs and savings.............................................................12

Choosing the right system.....................................................................13

Wind system cost worksheet................................................................15

Purchasing a small wind system: step by step.......................................15

Finding installation and maintenance support......................................16

Financial incentives..............................................................................17

Small wind energy equipment dealers and manufacturers.....................22

Wind glossary........................................................................................23

Further reading......................................................................................25

Wind power websites............................................................................26

Montana Wind Power—A Consumer’s Guide to Harnessing the Wind

Introduction

Montana’s wind energy resource is attracting the interest offarmers, business owners and other landowners, as well asutilities and large-scale developers. People find wind energyattractive for a variety of reasons, including its potential eco-nomic benefits and its less harmful impact on the environmentwhen compared to coal and other electric power generation fuels.

The Montana Legislature is spurring development of the state’swind energy resource: legislation passed in 2001 provided forincentive payments to assist small commercial development.

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) ispromoting wind energy development by collecting data at wind-monitoring sites around the state, analyzing energy potentialbased on the data and making the information available to thepublic. The goal is to provide reliable information on energypotential, thus helping individuals to assess more accurately thefeasibility of investing in wind energy.

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This manual is for people who are interested in installing small(100kW or less) wind energy systems. It provides informationneeded for an initial analysis to determine whether further investi-gation is justified. It answers these questions:

• How can wind power work for you?• Is your business, farm or home a good site for a wind

turbine?• How much does a wind system cost and how much will it

save you?• How do you choose the right system?• Where can you go for more help and detailed information?

How can wind power work for you?

Harnessing wind power is not a new idea, but the appearance anddesign of wind machines have changed considerably from thewater-pumping windmills of the past. Before investing in a windsystem, you need to consider the amount of wind power availableand how this power can be used to meet your electrical or me-chanical energy needs.

Although wind machines can be used to produce mechanicalpower, this manual focuses on electricity production. For electricalgeneration, the system consists of a rotor (i.e., blades) that drivesan electrical generator, which produces electric power; a tower;and usually an inverter. Some wind machines also require a batterybank. A wind system used for mechanical power will have therotor, the tower and mechanical linkage of some sort. Harnessingwind power includes using the power efficiently. Investing $1 inefficiency is equivalent to investing about $3 to $5 in generationcapacity.

How much electricity will a wind machine produce?

Although most small wind machines are rated according to peakwattage, nothing tells you more about a wind machine’s potentialperformance than the swept area, or the area the blades coverwhen they are rotating. This is a more useful number because thereis no standard for measuring peak wattage. See Table 1 for theswept area of some small wind systems. Each manufacturer setsits own test standards, but all measure geometric areas in the sameway.

A second number you’ll need when evaluating a wind turbine isthe Annual Energy Output (AEO). This is an estimate of theamount of electricity the wind system will produce in one year atthe proposed site.

Wind is a form of solarenergy. Winds arecaused by the unevenheating of the atmo-sphere by the sun, theirregularities of theearth’s surface, androtation of the earth.Wind flow patterns aremodified by the earth’sterrain, bodies of water,and vegetative cover.This wind flow, ormotion energy, when“harvested” by modernwind turbines can beused to generateelectricity.

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Energy generatedfrom wind is still onlya small portion oftotal energy produc-tion, but the potentialhas barely beentapped. Estimatesare that wind powercould produce threetimes more electricitythan all conventionalsources in the UnitedStates.

AEO (in kilowatt-hours per year, or kWh/yr) can be approxi-mated using the following equation:

AEO = (P x A x %Efficiency x 8760 hrs/yr)/1000

Where:P = Average Power Density at site in watts/square meter

This data is available from a variety of sources, includingthe Montana high-resolution wind map(www.windpowermaps.org) and the Montana wind atlas.

A = Swept Area in square meters (1sqm = 10.76 sq.ft.)Conventional Rotor: πr2

Darrius Rotor: .85 dhH Rotor: d x h

% Efficiency = Specific to each model of machine.This shows how much of the potential energy in the windthat is converted to electricity. Small turbines are usually12% to 30% efficient.

Table 1. —Swept area of some small wind systems

r = Radius of bladesd = diameter of bladesh = height of hub on

vertical axis wind turbine

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The AEO formula provides only an approximation of electricalproduction. Actual production depends on a number of factors,including:

• wind speed distribution;• changes in air density due to elevation and weather; and• actual system efficiency.

Table 2 shows some AEO numbers for various rotor diametersand efficiencies. For a more detailed explanation of AEO, consultthe books listed in the Further Reading section on Page 25.

An alternative to calculating the AEO is to use the manufac-turer’s projections. These numbers usually are for a site with anormal wind speed distribution at sea level. Your site will prob-ably vary. All wind turbines will produce less electricity as eleva-tion increases.

Towers. Estimating potential production should not be donewithout considering tower heights. Power available in the wind isproportional to the cube of the wind speed. Increasing your towerheight also will increase your speed and consequently, your powerproduction. See Table 3. The following formula will estimate theincrease in wind speed:

S/S0 = (H / H0)σ

σ is the “wind shear coefficient.” It is a measurement of thesurface roughness. For level, grass-covered range land, σ is equal

)hpm( )s/m( 0.1 5.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7

0.9 0.4 57 82.0 441 523 875 0031 1132 0163 9915 6707

1.01 5.4 011 82.0 212 774 748 6091 9833 5925 5267 87301

2.11 0.5 051 52.0 852 085 1301 1232 6214 7446 3829 63621

3.21 5.5 091 52.0 723 537 7031 0492 6225 6618 95711 50061

4.31 0.6 052 12.0 163 218 4441 9423 6775 6209 79921 09671

6.41 5.6 023 91.0 814 149 2761 3673 0966 25401 25051 78402

7.51 0.7 004 61.0 044 099 0671 1693 2407 30011 44851 56512

8.61 5.7 094 51.0 505 7311 2202 9454 7808 63621 59181 66742

9.71 0.8 006 21.0 594 4111 0891 6544 2297 87321 42871 16242

0.91 5.8 027 21.0 495 7331 7732 7435 6059 35841 98312 31192

2.02 0.9 058 21.0 107 8751 6082 3136 32211 53571 15252 96343

Average Wind Speed Power Densitywatts/m2

Efficiency Rotor Diameter (Meters)

Table 2: Annual Energy Output (kilowatt-hours)

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to 1/7. Row crops and hedgeswill have an σ equal to1/5. For a more detailed descrip-tion of wind shear, consult WindPower for Home and Business listedin the Further Reading section onPage 25.

S/S0 is the number we are tryingto find; it is the ratio between thenew wind speed and the old windspeed. A ratio of 1.35 wouldindicate a 35% increase in windspeed.

For example if you know thewind speed at 30 feet and youwant to know how much of animprovement a 100-foot towerwould be, the equation wouldread like this:

S/S0 = (100/30)1/7 = 1.20

The 100-foot tower would yield a20% increase in wind speed.Because of the cubic relationshipbetween power and wind speed,the potential power increases by68%. These formulas are ap-proximations of the real world.

Applications. Available power can be used in a number of ways.For example, you may choose to connect your wind-driven gen-erator to your current electrical system so that you can drawpower from either your utility or the generator. Another option isto make the generator independent of the utility and use theelectricity directly for your home, farm or business. This willrequire batteries to store surplus electricity. If you use windenergy primarily for water heating, a large storage tank can beadded with an electric heating coil directly connected to theoutput of a wind generator. This does not require the specializedelectronics needed to hook up to the utility grid.

Utility connections. If your system is connected to an electricutility that allows net metering, you can feed excess electricityinto the utility lines when you have more power than you need,and draw on utility power when the wind system cannot meet

Lattice towers secured with guy wires work well with turbines10KW and smaller, such as this one on a ranch home near DeerLodge.

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your demand. Federal and state laws now require utilities to buythe excess power generated. The Montana Public Service Com-mission, in conjunction with the utilities and other interestedparties, has developed rules that establish buyback rates.

Montana’s net-metering law requires that Investor Owned Utili-ties (NorthWestern Energy and Montana-Dakota Utilities Co.)allow interconnection for generators under 50kW. A net-meteredinterconnection allows you to buy electricity from the grid at theretail rate and feed your excess electricity production into theutility grid. The utility credits your excess production at the retailrate. Note that the utility will not pay you for your excess produc-tion. The best you can do is to generate enough electricity tomeet your demand. If you want to sell your electricity, the inter-connection agreement is covered under qualifying facility regula-tions and the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA).

In order to interconnect with the electrical grid, the inverter mustmeet certain technical standards, including islanding protection,over/under voltage disconnect, over/under frequency disconnect,automatic fault condition reset for loss of grid and voltage/frequency variations, ground fault interruption protection, discon-nect switches, and a five-year warranty. Additionally, some windmachines require a suitably sized battery bank to interconnect.

Considering Montana’s low wholesale electricity prices, theeconomics of small wind machines are much less attractiveoutside of a net-metered interconnection.

Quick CheckHere’s a quick test ofwind power feasibility,assuming you don’tlive in a state with asubsidy program andyou want to recoupyour investment in 15years or less. Giventhese conditions, youshould consider windpower if:

A) Your electricity costsmore than 11 cents perkilowatt-hour (kWh);

B) Your area has anaverage wind speed of11mph or more; and

C) You have one (1)acre of property ormore.

Table 3. — Wind speed increases with tower height.

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Montana’s electric cooperativesevaluate each interconnection on acase-by-case basis. The MontanaElectric Cooperative Associationhas adopted a model net-meteringpolicy, but each cooperative is freeto make its own policy.

Battery storage. If you don’tinterconnect your generator withthe power grid, you’ll need storagebatteries to provide electricitywhen sufficient power is notavailable from the wind system.Depending on your wind resource,you should plan to have enoughbattery storage capacity to meetyour electricity needs for three tofive days. Lead-acid batteries arethe least expensive, most practicalmeans of storing electrical energy.These are larger than car batteriesand have thick lead plates fordeeper discharge and repeatedcycling over many years. Carbatteries can be used, but theyhave a limited life under deep-cycle conditions.

Wind systems with battery storageare generally more expensive. In addition, they are not as effi-cient because power is lost during battery storage and throughDC to AC conversion. In remote locations, however, whereextending a utility line would be costly, wind systems withbattery storage are an excellent alternative to fossil fuel genera-tors. Another possibility is to combine a wind system with a solarelectric system. This “hybrid” system is often the most cost-effective way to generate electricity in remote locations. If yoursite requires a line extension, this could be a cheaper alternative.

Do you have a good site?

Finding the best possible site for your wind machine is criticaland should be done carefully. Follow these basic steps in siteselection:

Most monitoring systems include an anemometer and a windvane. The anemometer measures wind velocity, while the windvane registers direction. Both instruments should be mountedon a pole or tower that is as close as possible to the height ofthe wind machine.

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• Observe wind and terrain characteristics;• Determine the general wind resource in your area;• If necessary, measure wind speed at each site being

considered; and• Check for legal restrictions.

The available power in wind is determined by three factors:1) Wind speed;2) Air density; and3) Wind characteristics or turbulence

(less turbulence equals more power)

Of the three, wind speed has the greatest effect on availablepower. There are four methods used to determine wind speed at asite:

1) Empirical data collection;2) Correlation;3) Totaling anemometer; and4) Real time data collection.

The wind resource in your area. A Wind Resource Map pre-pared by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory shows thestate’s wind resource by wind power classification. The map wasdeveloped using a computerized mapping process that takes intoaccount terrain characteristics such as elevation, vegetation andsurface roughness. The map is available online at:www.windpowermaps.com. You may be able to get wind speeddata from a nearby weather station. This data is usually standard-ized to 33 feet (10 meters). The wind speeds at the top of a tallertower will be higher. You can find specific wind data for Montanain the Montana Wind Energy Atlas — 1987 Edition, availableonline: www.energizemontana.com.

Site observation/empirical data collection. Your own observa-tion can be useful in assessing the wind energy potential of yoursite, although it is easy to overestimate the wind energy potentialof a windy site. Take some time to observe the wind; windspeeds of 9 to 12.3 mph (4 to 5.5 m/s) cause constant motion ofleaves and small twigs and extend flags or streamers. This is therange where most turbines begin to produce power.

Check the topography of your land for obstacles such as trees,buildings and hills, which slow the wind from certain directions.If your land has a large, open, flat area or a ridge or hilltop withexposure to winds from most directions, it has greater potential asa wind energy site. Lower areas, ravines, river bottoms andwooded sites generally are not practical for wind systems. How-ever, there are exceptions. You also can examine the vegetation at

Wind machines arenot the easiest answerto your energy needs.While the fuel is free,the equipment is not.The first, and easiest,step to reducing yourenergy bill is efficiency.Investing $1 inconservation will yieldthe same effects as ininvesting $3-5 ingeneration.

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your site. If the conifers all leanin the same direction, this is agood sign. This phenomenon iscalled flagging. Use the Griggs-Putnam Index to approximatethe average annual wind speed.For example, if all the branchesare on one side of the trunk,this indicates an average annualwind speed in the 13-16 mphrange.

While flagging indicates strongwinds, the absence of flaggingdoes not necessarily mean youdon’t have good wind. For amore detailed discussion offlagging and the Griggs-PutnamIndex, consult Wind EnergyBasics listed in Further Readingon Page 25.

Also, don’t discount yourinstincts. If you’ve lived in anarea for a few years and believethe wind blows all the time,you’re probably right. If you arenew to an area, ask people whohave been there awhile.

If there is an airport or weatherstation nearby, check there forwind-speed data. If the topog-raphy of the weather station issimilar to that of your site, itswind data may approximateyours. Take into account thatsmall airports usually are sitedin areas that are sheltered fromthe wind. Also, weather datausually is standardized to 33feet, and the instrumentation isoften on or near a building.Your wind machine should be on a taller tower and above sur-rounding obstacles. This means that the wind speed at your site athub height may be higher than what the weather station or airportis reporting. Airport or weather data can show you the seasonal

MONTANA RANKS FIFTH among the top 20 states forwind energy potential, as measured by annual energypotential in the billions of kWh, factoring in environ-mental and land-use exclusions for wind class of 3and higher. Source: An Assessment of the AvailableWindy Land Area and Wind Energy Potential in theContiguous United States, Pacific Northwest Labora-tory, 1991. For more information, see the AmericanWind Energy Association web site: www.awea.org.

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trends in the wind speeds. Ifthese preliminary indications arefavorable, the next step may be tomonitor the wind speed.

Wind speed monitoring. Whenconsidering wind power, mostpeople ask what the averageannual wind speed is and how toget that number. The usualresponse is that you must monitorthe wind speed at your site for atleast 12 months, preferablylonger, to determine whether awind generator will work for you.For a home system, this isn’tnecessary. The costs involved incollecting wind data may not bejustified when compared to thetotal cost of a small wind ma-chine. There is no economicformula to determine this, but itdoesn’t make much sense tospend $1,200 on instrumentation

if your wind machine costs only $3,000. You can get close to theactual number by making an educated guess using the empiricalmethods described above.

If you decide to monitor wind speeds, you have several options.The first is to buy a weather anemometer and record observationson a regular basis. This is the least expensive way to collect winddata, but it has disadvantages. For the data to be valid, you mustbe methodical in collecting it. Recording one instantaneous windspeed per day won’t do. If you can’t record multiple wind speedsthroughout a day, the quality of your data is questionable. Asecond option is to automate data collection by installing a datacollection board in a personal computer. This method works, butthe computer must stay on all the time, and there are additionalcosts. Since these are not plug-and-play components, somecomputer hardware and software knowledge is necessary.

A third option is to invest in an anemometer system specificallydesigned for collecting wind data. The least expensive systemssimply average the wind speed over time and cost $200 to $300.These systems usually are sold without towers. While the averagewind speed is a useful measurement, it also is important to knowthe wind speed distribution. More sophisticated systems usuallyconsist of a portable tower, instrumentation and a data logger.

A converted cell phone tower, complete with climbing bars,supports this turbine at a home north of Butte.

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These systems are reliable and accurate, but they are expensive.After collecting data, you have equipment that may or may not beuseful to you. The secondary market for used towers and dataloggers is limited. If you buy a used system, consider new instru-mentation. This will help ensure quality data.

Usually the system has an anemometer and a wind vane. Theanemometer measures wind velocity, while the wind vane regis-ters direction. Both instruments should be mounted on a pole ortower that is as close as possible to the height at which your windmachine will be mounted. If your anemometer is mounted toolow, it will underestimate the actual wind resource available. It isgenerally recommended that the hub height for small machines betetween 60 feet and 120 feet. Your anemometer also should bewithin this range.

To generate data for all seasons, average wind speeds along withdistribution and peak gust information should be recorded for aminimum of three months, but ideally for a full year. Wind speeddata can then be used with performance data for various windmachines to determine the expected output for each machine atyour site.

If you collect data for a short time, it can be correlated withexisting data to produce a model of the wind speeds at the poten-tial site. To do this, you need to develop a “correction factor.” Forexample, assume you have collected average wind speeds of 12.8mph, 10.8 mph and 10.4 mph for the last three months, and thepublished data from a nearby site for the same three months is10.9, 10.2 and 9.5. Dividing your data by the published data willgive you the following deviation factors: 1.174, 1.059 and 1.095.Averaging these results in a correction factor of 1.109. You canmultiply the remaining published data by this correction factor toestimate wind speeds at your site. This method involves a fairamount of interpretation, and some sites do not correlate well.

If you are considering a large project, on-site data is a necessity.These systems require taller towers—40 or 50 meters. Theyinclude multiple levels of instrumentation and data loggers thatcan be accessed remotely. Assessing a site’s potential for utility-scale wind development is an expensive undertaking that requirescommitting significant financial resources.

Zoning restrictions and insurance

If your site is in a remote or agricultural area, you may not need toworry about legal restrictions. You should, however, check withyour city or county for zoning regulations, building codes and

America used 3,200billion kilowatt-hoursof electricity in 1998.The Energy Informa-tion Agency predictsthat consumption willincrease to 4,400billion kilowatt-hoursin 2020. No singleenergy source candeliver all the electric-ity we need to fuel oureconomy.

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electrical codes. Restrictions may be placed on the height anddistance of your wind generator from property lines and roads.Generally, in Montana, zoning officials are unfamiliar with windmachines. However, some cities and counties have writtenordinances specifically addressing wind turbines and towers. Beprepared to educate officials about small wind machines and howthey differ from utility-scale turbines.

It is a good idea to talk with your neighbors before installing yourmachine and tower. Sometimes visual impact and noise canbecome issues. If you plan to interconnect with your electricutility, you should determine its policies concerning interconnec-tion. Federal and state laws require utilities to interconnect with“small power producers,” but policies and required equipmentvary. Contact your utility before installation.

Once your system is installed, it should be insured. Most insur-ance companies are unfamiliar with the term “wind turbine.”Most will be satisfied if you refer to your system as a windmilland tower. Explain that you want to include the system as an“appurtenant structure” on your current homeowner policy. Thepolicy should cover the installed cost of the system. Liabilityinsurance is another question. There are very few instances wherewind machines have failed catastrophically and injured someone,but it could happen. You’ll have to decide the likelihood of anaccident occurring at your site. Contact your insurance companywhile you are planning the installation.

Wind system costs and savings

The cost of a wind energy system includes the initial purchaseprice plus maintenance costs.

Maintenance costs. All machines require maintenance, andwind turbines are no exception. Total annual maintenance costsare usually estimated to be 2 to 2.5 percent of the initial machinecost. Maintaining a small wind machine typically involves a once-or twice-a-year inspection and possibly lubrication.

Calculating savings. To estimate the cost-effectiveness of yourwind system, you need the following information:

• Total cost of the installation. Include conduit andelectrical materials, plus all hardware and inspectionsThese incidentals can add up to a significant amount; and

• Expected annual energy output of the machine, in kilo-watt-hours, based on the manufacturer’s productionestimates for the wind speed data at the intended site.

In off-grid applications,wind systems oftenare installed in tandemwith another genera-tion source, usuallyphotovoltaics. Consid-ering Montana’sweather patterns, thismakes a lot of sense.When the wind isn’tblowing, the sunusually shines.

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Simple payback. Theworksheet on page 15 will helpyou calculate how long it willtake energy savings to pay forthe machine. Remember,however, that simple paybackdoes not take into accountloan interest charges or operat-ing and maintenance expenses.The worksheet should beviewed as a rough estimate; ifthe results are favorable, moreprecise calculations will beneeded.

Choosing the right system

Selecting a system that is theright size is extremely impor-tant. Your first step is to findout how much electricity youconsume. Generally, a 10kW(7.3m) machine producesenough power for the averagehome, and a 20kW (8.8m)machine is adequate for theaverage farm. The key tomaking the best choice is toknow your needs, includinghow you plan to use theelectricity. It’s wise to evaluateyour energy use and imple-ment conservation and effi-ciency measures before investing in a wind turbine. Saving energyis more cost-effective than generating it. NorthWestern Energyoffers its customers energy audits, or you can perform your own.The time involved is well spent.

Wind machines differ in size and design. There are two types ofwind machines: drag and lift. A Savonius machine is an exampleof a drag machine. Although there are some drag devices, mostwind machines used for electrical production are lift machines.Lift machines are further classified by their axis orientation.Vertical-axis machines have a vertically oriented drive shaft. Fewresidential-sized machines are of this type.

Horizontal-axis machines are the most common and are designedeither as upwind or downwind. In the upwind models, the wind

A hybrid wind-solar system provides some of the energy needs atSpa Hot Springs in White Sulphur Springs.

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passes through the blades before going past the tower. In adownwind machine, the wind moves past the tower beforestriking the blades. To be most efficient, horizontal-axis windmachines must hold the rotors directly into the wind. Largeturbines use motorized controls to hold the rotor into the wind.Residential-scale turbines track the wind passively, usuallythrough a tail vane.

Finally, wind machines must protect themselves from high winds.Most small machines do this by passively turning the rotor out ofthe wind. This is called furling, and there are a variety of designsthat accomplish this. For a further discussion of furling andmachine design, see Paul Gipe’s book, Wind Energy Basics, listedin the Further Reading section on page 25.

As with any major purchase, before you buy a wind machine youshould shop around for the best balance of value and quality. Thestyle and height of the tower are as important as the wind ma-chine. Wind speeds increase with elevation. Towers should be atleast 60 feet tall, preferably taller. The bottom of the rotor bladesshould be 30 feet above any obstacle that is within 300 feet.Usually the tallest tower height used for small machines is 120feet. To make sure that you receive all the pertinent informationfrom each dealer, use the following as a checklist:

• Rotor diameter;

• Annual energy output (in kilowatt-hours) at various aver-age wind speeds;

• Rated power output or generator rating (expressed inkilowatts);

• Rated wind speed — wind speed at which the machinereaches the rated power output;

• Cut-in speed — wind speed at which the machine startsto produce power; and

• Survival wind speed — maximum wind speed themachine is designed to withstand.

Some electric utilitieshave learned whatmany people living offthe grid have discov-ered for themselves:anyone more than ¼ to½ mile from the utilityline who has anaverage wind speed of9 mph will find windenergy more economicthan a line extension orother alternatives. TheElectric Power Re-search Institute hasgone so far as tosuggest that in somecases it may makemore economic senseto remove some under-used transmissionlines in the UnitedStates and serve theloads with hybridstand-alone powersystems rather thancontinue maintainingthe line.

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Wind System Cost Worksheet(for calculating simple payback)Capital costs (fill in only blanks that apply)Wind generator (1) _____________Tower and foundation (2) _____________Inverter (if needed) (3) _____________Batteries (if needed) (4) _____________Installation costs (5) _____________Shipping costs (6) _____________Other (7) _____________Total capital costs (add 1-7) (8) $____________Projected AEO(kWh) (9) _____________Annual energy cost saving (10)$/yr_________(electric retail rate x line 9*)Simple payback (11) ____________(line 8 ÷ line 10)*Only if net metered. Otherwise, use wholesale or “avoided” cost.Example, based on a typical 20kW machine in a 6 m/s (13.4 mph) average annualwind speed

Capital costsWind generator (1) $16,500Tower (80 feet) (2) $5,144Inverter (3) $3,900Batteries (4) n/aInstallation and foundation costs (5) $3,000Shipping costs (6) $ 700Other hardware (7) $ 800Total (add lines 1-7) (8) $30,044Projected annual energy output (9) 42,000 kwhAnnual energy cost savings (10) $2,940(based on electric retail rateof 7 cents per kWh)Simple payback (11) 10.2 years(30,044 ÷ 2940)

If power rates increase, the payback time will be shortened.

Purchasing a small wind system: step by step

Before you purchase a wind turbine, you should address thefollowing issues about the proposed site:

• Average annual wind speed;• Prevailing wind directions;• Vegetation and buildings at the site;• Type of energy storage and whether the system will be

net-metered; and • Legal and environmental restrictions, if any, on installing a

small wind energy system.

You should also:

• Determine your year-round electrical requirements;• Determine how you can reduce electrical demand;

Most frost-free refrig-erators use heat tokeep the frost down.You pay for this twice—first in added electricusage and second inhaving to run the fridgelonger to offset thisheat contribution. Lookinto replacing yourmajor appliances withenergy-efficientmodels.

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• Evaluate your site and its wind energy potential;• Select a likely site, obtaining an anemometer and monitor-

ing wind speeds for three to 12 months, if necessary;• Survey available small wind energy systems and

obtain information from manufacturers;• Make apreliminary selection;• Consult your local utility about interconnection costs and

requirements if your machine will be interconnected withthe power grid;

• Evaluate the initial cost, as well as the cost per kilowatt-hour of electricity, for the machine you are consideringbuying (use the worksheet on page 15 to compare thesecosts with your utility rates and roughly calculate yourinvestment payback);

• Consider potential tax breaks;• Check manufacturer or dealer warranties and/or main-

tenance contracts; and• Check electric equipment for utility connection or

electrical storage, if needed.

And here are two other items to consider:• If your calculations are favorable, it is wise to do a more

sophisticated analysis of your wind energy potential andpotential profitability before buying a machine.

• If you intend to sell some or all of the electricity gener-ated, the utility buyback rate as well as the incentivepayments available from the state will affect the profit-ability of your investment.

Finding installation and maintenance support

The manufacturer/dealer should be able to help you install yourmachine. Many people elect to install machines themselves.Before attempting to install your wind turbine, ask yourself thefollowing questions:

• Can I pour a concrete foundation?• Do I have access to a crane or another means of erecting

the tower safely?• Do I know the difference between AC and DC power?• Do I know enough about electricity to safely wire my

turbine?• Do I know how to safely handle and install batteries?

If you answered no to any of the above questions, you probablyshould have a dealer or contractor install your system. Contactthe manufacturer for help or call the Montana Department ofEnvironmental Quality (406-841-5204). NCAT or your localutility can provide a list of local system installers.

The U.S. is a leadingproducer of small windturbines. In fact, fourU.S. manufacturerscommand about one-third of the global windpower market. Duringa recent year, themarket for small windsystems (those withless than 100kW ofgenerating capacity)grew more than 35%.The U.S. has about 15-MW of nameplatecapacity of small windturbines, and theindustry averages a 50-50 domestic-interna-tional sales mix. AWEAexpects continuedgrowth in this market.

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Find out if the installer is a licensed electrician. Montana lawpermits homeowners to do electrical work on their own homes. Ifa contractor installs the system, a licensed electrician must do theelectrical work. Ask for references and check them out. You mayalso want to check with the Consumer Protection Office, 1424Ninth Ave., P.O. Box 200501, Helena, MT 59620-0501. You canalso check www.montangreenpower.com for renewable energydealers in Montana.

Financial Incentives

Low-interest loans

Alternative Energy Revolving Loan. The 2001 Legislatureestablished an alternative energy revolving loan account to issuelow-interest loans, up to $10,000 but not less than $5,000, for fiveyears. The loan program is aimed at homes and small businesses.Contact the Department of Environmental Quality for informa-tion:

Metcalf Building Office1100 N. Last Chance GulchP.O. Box 200901Helena, MT 59620406-841-5204

Tax Credits

Property Tax Exemption. In addition to other energy-relatedtax benefits, a portion of the appraised value of certain non-fossilenergy property is eligible to be exempt from property taxation forup to 10 years following the date of installation. Eligible propertyincludes alternative energy-generating systems, such as those thatuse sun, wind, hydropower, solid waste or the decomposition oforganic wastes. Up to $20,000 of the value of a system installedin a single-family residential building can be exempt from propertytaxation, or up to $100,000 of a system installed in a multi-familyresidential dwelling or a nonresidential structure.

Application for property tax-exempt status must be submitted tothe county assessor’s office by March 1 to be considered forexemption that tax year. For installations made after March 1, anapplication for property exempt status must be submitted beforethe following March 1 to be considered for exemption starting thefollowing tax year. Applications may be submitted for installationsmade within 10 years prior to the given tax year, but will beeligible for property tax exemption only for the remainder of 10years from the date of installation. A state property tax-exemption

“There is a strong casefor revived interest inwind power. It could bevery competitive…Itcertainly can be theessential ingredient ofpollution-free powersystems. And it issuch a gentle alterna-tive to high temperaturecombustion, fission,and fusion schemes.”— WilliamHeronemus, 1972

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form is available at your county assessor’s office.

State Tax Credit. Montana taxpayers producing or using wind-generated electricity or manufacturing wind energy-generatingequipment are entitled to a state tax credit of 35 percent of theirinvestment of $5,000 or more in depreciable property of a windenergy-generation system located in Montana, less the value ofany state or federal government grants received.

The credit may only be taken against net income produced by theeligible equipment or by associated new business activity; that is,it must be a commercial operation. If the taxpayer claims afederal tax benefit on the wind system, then the state tax benefitsfor the system do not exceed 60 percent of the eligible costs ofthe system.

The tax credit must be taken the year the equipment is placed inservice; however, any portion of the tax credit that exceeds theamount of tax to be paid may be carried over and applied againststate tax liability for seven years following. Taxpayers may nottake this credit in conjunction with any other state energy or stateinvestment tax benefits, or with the property tax exemption fornon-fossil energy property.

For more on tax incentives, visit the Department of Environmen-tal Quality’s Energize Montana website:www.energizemontana.com.

Net Metering

In Montana, electric distribution consumers of investor-ownedutilities can install small, grid-connected renewable energysystems to reduce their electricity bills using “net metering.”Under net metering, electricity produced by the renewable energysystem can flow into the utility grid, spinning the electricity meterbackwards. Other than the renewable energy system and appro-priate meter, no special equipment is needed. With net metering,consumers can use the electricity they produce to offset theirelectricity demand on an instantaneous basis. But if the consumerhappens to produce any excess electricity (beyond what is neededto meet the customer’s own needs at the moment), the utilitygives the customer credit for that excess electricity. Ask yourutility about its net metering policy. Net metering simplifies thisarrangement by allowing the consumer to use any excess electric-ity to offset electricity used at other times during the billingperiod.

Besides producingelectricity, windmachines also can beused to aerate ponds,heat water or pumpwater.

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Why is net metering important? There are three reasons netmetering is important. First, as increasing numbers of primarilyresidential customers install renewable energy systems in theirhomes, there needs to be a simple, standardized protocol forconnecting their systems into the electricity grid that ensuressafety and power quality.

Second, many residential customers are not at home using elec-tricity during the day when their systems are producing power,and net metering allows them to receive value for the electricitythey produce without installing expensive battery storage systems.

Third, net metering provides a simple, inexpensive, and easilyadministered mechanism for encouraging the use of renewableenergy systems, which provide important local, national andglobal benefits.

Net metering provides a variety of benefits for both utilities andconsumers. Utilities benefit by avoiding the administrative andaccounting costs of metering and purchasing the small amountsof excess electricity produced by these small-scale, renewableenergy-generating facilities. Consumers benefit by getting greatervalue for some of the electricity they generate, by being able tointerconnect with the utility using their existing utility meter andby being able to interconnect using widely accepted technicalstandards.

The only cost associated with net metering is indirect: the cus-tomer is buying less electricity from the utility, which means theutility is collecting less revenue from the customer. The revenueloss is roughly comparable to having the customer reduce electric-ity use by investing in efficiency measures, such as compactfluorescent lights and energy-efficient appliances.

Meters. The standard kilowatt-hour meter used by the vastmajority of residential and small commercial customers will rotatein either direction. However, it usually registers rotations only, notdirection. This means that if you send electricity to the electricalgrid without telling the power company, you may end up payingfor it. When you become net-metered, the meter will be changed.With the new meter, the “netting” process associated with netmetering happens automatically—the meter spins forward (in thenormal direction) when the consumer needs more electricity thanis being produced, and spins backward when the consumer isproducing more electricity than is needed in the house or building.

Safety. During the last decade, there has been tremendous tech-nological progress in the design of the equipment that integrates

Explore the pages of theMontana Green Powerwebsite to learn more aboutwind and other renewableenergy technologies in Montana.You’ll find the latestrenewable energy news,information on planning anddesigning your own solar,wind and micro-hydrosystems, activities for theclassroom, updates onutility restructuring,and links to other usefulsites.www.montanagreenpower.com

The Montana Departmentof Environmental Quality’sEnergize Montana websiteprovides information onenergy efficiency andrenewable energy at home,at work or at school.www.energizemontana.com

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small-scale generators with the utility grid.Called “inverters” because they wereoriginally designed only to “invert” the DCelectricity produced by solar arrays andwind turbines to the AC electricity used inour homes and businesses, these deviceshave evolved into extremely sophisticatedpower-management systems.

Inverters now include all the necessaryprotective relays and circuit breakersneeded to synchronize safely and reliablywith the utility grid, and to prevent“islanding” by automatically shutting downwhen the utility grid experiences an outage.Moreover, this protective equipment oper-ates automatically, without any humanintervention needed.

Most new inverters comply with all nation-ally recognized codes and standards, includ-ing the National Electrical Code (NEC),Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and theInstitute of Electrical and ElectronicEngineers (IEEE). These systems are nowoperating safely and reliably in every state inthe nation. A net-metering system used by acustomer-generator must include, at thecustomer-generator’s own expense, allequipment necessary to meet applicable

safety, power quality and interconnection requirements estab-lished by the National Electrical Code, National Electrical SafetyCode, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, andUnderwriters Laboratories.

The Montana Law. A “net metered system” is a facility for theproduction of electric energy that:

• uses as its fuel solar, wind, or hydropower;• has a generating capacity of not more than 50 kilowatts;• is located on the customer-generator’s premises;• operates in parallel with the distribution services

provider’s distribution facilities; and• is intended primarily to offset part or all of the customer-

generator’s requirements for electricity.

The legislation also requires that a distribution services providerallow net metering systems to be interconnected using a standardkilowatt-hour meter capable of registering the flow of electricity

A small wind turbine provides part of the powerneeds of the Learning and Spirit lodge on theNorthern Cheyenne Reservation near Busby.

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in two directions. The distribution services provider shall chargethe customer-generator a minimum monthly fee that is the sameas other customers of the electric utility in the same rate class.Net Metering Calculation. In calculating the net energy mea-surement, the distribution services provider measures the netelectricity produced or consumed during the billing period, inaccordance with normal metering practices. At the end of themonth, if the customer has generated more electricity than wasused, the utility credits the net kilowatt-hours produced at thewholesale power rate. If customers use more electricity than theygenerate, they pay the difference.

On January 1, April 1, July 1, or October 1 of each year, asdesignated by the customer-generator as the beginning date of a12-month billing period, any remaining unused kilowatt-hourcredit accumulated during the previous 12 months must begranted to the electricity supplier, without any compensation tothe customer-generator. With wind generation, it makes sense tochoose a date that occurs after the least windy part of the year.

Net metering allows homeowners who are not home when theirsystems are producing electricity to still receive the full value ofthat electricity without having to install a battery storage system.The power grid acts as the customer’s battery backup, which savesthe customer the added expense of purchasing and maintaining abattery system.

By adopting net metering early, a utility establishes itself in aleadership role in providing customers the option of generatingsome of its own electricity. The 1997 Montana net meteringlegislation effectively applies only to the NorthWestern Energyand Montana Dakota Utilities. Electric cooperatives are notrequired to provide net metering, though electric cooperativeshave adopted individual net metering policies.

Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act (PURPA). Under existingfederal law (PURPA, Section 210), utility customers can use theelectricity they generate with a wind turbine to supply their ownlights and appliances, offsetting electricity they would otherwisehave to purchase from the utility at the retail price. But if thecustomer produces any excess electricity (beyond what is neededto meet the customer’s own needs) and net metering is not al-lowed, the utility purchases that excess electricity at the wholesaleor ‘avoided cost’ price, which is much lower than the retail price.The excess energy is metered using an additional meter that mustbe installed at the customer’s expense. Check with your utility forthe buyback rates for electricity you produce. Net meteringsimplifies this arrangement by allowing the customer to use any

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excess electricity to offset electricity used at other times duringthe billing period. In other words, the customer is billed only forthe net energy consumed during the billing period.

Small Wind Energy Equipment Manufacturers and Dealers

See the Home Power Magazine website — www.homepower.com —for a list of small wind system manufacturers.

For a list of Montana renewable energy businesses, visit theMontana Green Power website: www.montanagreenpower.com.There may be additional dealers and manufacturers not includedin these lists. Inclusion on the lists does not constitute endorse-ment by the National Center for Appropriate Technology.

For more information on wind energy, contact:

National Center for Appropriate TechnologyP.O. Box 3838Butte, MT 59702Toll Free: 800-275-6228http://www.ncat.org

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Wind Glossary

Anemometer — An instrument used to measure the velocity ofthe wind

Cut-in speed — The wind speed at which the turbine begins toproduce electricity. Blades may rotate at speeds lower than this.

Cut-out speed — The wind speed at which the turbine will turnout of the wind in order to protect itself from damage.

Distributed Generation — A small-scale power-generationtechnology that provides electric power at a site closer to custom-ers than central station generation. The term is commonly used toindicate non-utility sources of electricity, including facilities forself-generation.

Green energy — A popular term for energy produced fromrenewable energy resources or, sometimes, from clean (low-pollution) energy sources.

Grid — A network of power lines or pipelines used to moveenergy.

Independent power producer (IPP) — An electricity generatorthat sells power to others but is not owned by a utility.

Investor-owned utility (IOU) — A utility with stock-basedownership.

Kilowatt — A unit of power equal to 1000 watts. Electric motorsand wind machines measure their capacity in kilowatts.746 watts = 1horsepower.

Kilowatt-hour — A unit of energy. 1 kilowatt-hour is the equiva-lent of ten 100-watt lightbulbs left on for one hour. The utilitycompany charges you by the kilowatt-hour.

Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) — A 1978federal law that requires electric utilities to purchase electricityproduced from certain efficient power producers (frequently usingrenewable energy or natural gas). Utilities purchase power at arate equal to the costs they avoid by not generating power them-selves. State regulatory agencies establish the based on localconditions.

Public Service Commission (PSC) — A state governmentagency responsible for the regulation of public utilities within a

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state or region. A state legislature oversees the PSC by reviewingchanges to utility laws, rules and regulations and approving thePSC’s budget. The commission usually has five Commissionersappointed by the governor or legislature. The PSC focuses onadequate, safe, universal utility service at reasonable rates whilealso trying to balance the interests of consumers, environmental-ists, utilities and stockholders.

Renewable energy — Energy derived from resources thatregenerative or for all practical purposes cannot be depleted.Types of renewable energy resources include moving (hydro, tidaland wave power), thermal gradients in ocean water, biomass,geothermal energy, solar energy and wind energy. Municipal solidwaste (MSW) also is considered a renewable energy resource.

Renewables portfolio standard (RPS) — A (proposed) mini-mum renewable energy requirement for a region’s electricity mix.Under an RPS, every electricity supplier would be required toprovide some percentage of its supply from renewable energysources. RPS proposals frequently ease that requirement byincluding a tradeable credit system under which electricity suppli-ers can meet the requirement by buying and selling renewablegeneration credits.

Restructuring — The process of changing the structure of theelectric power industry from one of guaranteed monopoly overservice territories to one of open competition between powersuppliers for customers.

Universal System Benefits Charge (USBC) — A required fee(also known as a public benefits charge) from all electricitycustomers to fund programs aimed at the public good that may nolonger be feasible for the utility to provide in a competitiveelectricity market. These programs include energy conservation,support for renewable energy use, low-income assistance, andresearch and development.

Turbine — A device for converting the flow of a fluid (air,steam, water or hot gases) into mechanical motion that in turnproduces electricity.

Unbundling — The process of separating a service into compo-nent parts and permitting customers to buy each separately.Utility unbundling, overseen by regulators, generally requiresutilities to ensure that the price of each service accurately reflectsthe cost of that service (plus a margin for profit). In this way,unbundling helps ensure that customers for what they receive andare not forced to subsidize services they do not use.

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Wind power class — A classification system that rates thequality of the wind resource in an area based on the averageannual wind speed. The scale ranges from 1-7, with 1 representingthe poorest wind energy resource and 7 representing the best.

Wind power density — A classification system that measuresthe amount of power contained in a given area for conversion bya wind turbine. Measured in watts per square meter.

Further Reading

Gipe, Paul. 1993. Wind Power for Home and Business. Chelsea GreenPublishing.

Gipe, Paul. 1999. Wind Energy Basics. Chelsea Green Publishing.

Patel, Mukund R. 1999. Wind and Solar Power Systems. CRC Press.

Piggot, Hugh. 1997. Windpower Workshop. Center for AlternativeTechnologies Publishing.

Righter, Robert. 1996. Wind Energy in America: A History.University of Oklahoma Press.

Iowa Wind Energy Manual. 2002. Iowa Wind Energy Center.http://www.energy.iastate.edu/WindManual/IowaWindManual.htmlSmall Wind Electric Systems. 2001. National Renewable EnergyLaboratory.

http://www.energy.iastate.edu/WindManual/IowaWindManual.html

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Wind Power Websites

American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)Wind, a clean and renewable source of electric power, is also theworld’s fastest growing energy source. Since 1974 the AmericanWind Energy Association (AWEA) has advocated the develop-ment of wind energy as a reliable, environmentally superiorenergy alternative in the United States and around the world.

http://www.awea.org

Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is recognized as aworld leader in creating science and technology solutions for theenergy industry and for the benefit of the public. EPRI’s techni-cal program spans virtually every aspect of power generation,delivery, and use, including environmental considerations. Theorganization serves more than 1,000 energy organizations world-wide and draws on a global network of technical and businessexpertise to help solve energy problems.

http://www.epri.com

Energy Resources Research Laboratory (ERRL)The ERRL at Oregon State University has managed the datacollection, quality assurance and analysis for the BonnevillePower Administration’s wind energy resource studies since 1978and manages other data management activities for transmissionline research. It maintains a large data base of wind data for thePacific Northwest. This web page summarizes the wind statisticsof the five Bonneville Power Administration’s long-term windmonitoring sites in the Pacific Northwest.

http://www.me.orst.edu/ERRL/index.html

Guided Tour on Wind EnergyWant to know where wind energy comes from? Want to learnabout the Coriolis Force, global winds, geostrophic wind, windspeed measurement, the wind rose, wind shear, and wind shade?Need to find a wind shade calculator, information about windturbine components, rotor blades, and wind energy economics?Answers to all your questions about wind energy can be found atthe Danish Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association’s GuidedTour on Wind Energy. The website includes wind resourcecalculators and features more than 100 animated pages on windresources, wind turbine technology, and economics. Each of thenine tours is a self-contained unit, so you may take the tours inany order.http://www.windpower.dk/tour/index.htm

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Identifying High Wind ResourcesKnowing where a high wind resource may exist is valuable to awind energy project developer or potential wind energy userbecause it allows them to choose a general area of estimated highwind for more detailed examination. NREL identifies and gathersdata for wind resource maps of the United States and foreigncountries. These maps help developers or users find areas worthyof detailed wind resource monitoring.

http://www.nrel.gov/wind/database.html

Montana Anemometer Loan ProgramThe Montana Department of Environmental Quality and partnersare currently administering a state anemometer loan program freeto the general public. A total of eight 20-meter anemometers arecurrently deployed in the field. In addition, DEQ plans to instsallfour anemometer stations on state-owned land.

Contact Kathi Montgomery, Montana Department of EnvironmentalQuality—406-841-5280

Montana Wind Cluster ProgramThe Wind Cluster Program has two main focus areas in windenergy technology. The first area concentrates on improving thestructural performance of wind turbine blades so that they willmeet severe service requirements over their design lifetime withminimum blade weight and cost. Blade weight and cost aresignificant elements in the overall cost of wind generated power,and improved technology can have a significant impact in thisarea. This program is now recognized as a major contributor bythe National Laboratories and the wind industry. The secondfocus area is to assist in the development of the outstanding windresources in Montana and the region. Efforts to date have led to amajor avian study and a demonstration project at the BlackfeetCommunity College, both of which have received major indepen-dent funding in the last year. Continuing efforts will shift towardstudies related to distributed generation in cooperation withMontana Power Company. The Wind Program is well on its wayto establishing facilities and expertise necessary to serve as anational resource in wind technology, with an increasing presencein national meetings and publications, as well as a significantimpact on the educational program in the four participatinguniversities and colleges and on local industry.

http://biology.dbs.umt.edu/more/windex.htm

National Wind Coordinating Committee (NWCC)A U.S. consensus-based collaborative formed in 1994, the Na-tional Wind Coordinating Committee (NWCC) identifies issuesthat affect the use of wind power, establishes dialogue among key

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stakeholders, and catalyzes appropriate activities to support thedevelopment of an environmentally, economically, and politicallysustainable commercial market for wind power. NWCC membersinclude representatives from electric utilities and support organi-zations, state legislatures, state utility commissions, consumeradvocacy offices, wind equipment suppliers and developers, greenpower marketers, environmental organizations, and state andfederal agencies.

http://www.nationalwind.org/default.htm

Quick Facts about Wind EnergyWhat is wind energy? The terms “wind energy” or “wind power”describe the process by which the wind is used to generatemechanical power or electricity. Wind turbines convert the kineticenergy in the wind into mechanical power. This mechanicalpower can be used for specific tasks (such as grinding grain orpumping water) or a generator can convert this mechanical powerinto electricity to power homes, businesses, schools, and the like.To learn more about the wind, including wind energy links, morequick facts, homeowner help, visit:

http://www.eren.doe.gov/wind/web.html

Renewable Resource Data Center (RReDC)The Renewable Resource Data Center (RReDC) provides infor-mation on several types of renewable energy resources in theUnited States, in the form of publications, data, and maps. Anextensive dictionary of renewable energy related terms is alsoprovided. The News section announces new products on theREeDC, which is supported by the U. S. Department of Energy’sResource Assessment Program and managed by the PhotovoltaicsTechnology Division of the Office of Energy Efficiency andRenewable Energy.http://rredc.nrel.gov/

Small Wind Energy Systems for the HomeownerIn the 1920s and ’30s, farm families throughout the Midwest usedwind to generate enough electricity to power their lights andelectric motors. The use of wind power declined with the govern-ment-subsidized construction of utility lines and fossil fuel powerplants. However, the energy crisis in the 1970s and a growingconcern for the environment generated an interest in alternative,environmentally friendly energy resources. Today, homeowners inrural and remote locations across the nation are once againexamining the possibility of using wind power to provide electric-ity for their domestic needs. This publication will help you decidewhether a wind system is practical for you. It will explain thebenefits, help you assess your wind resource and possible sites,

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discuss legal and environmental obstacles, and analyze economicconsiderations such as pricing.

http://www.eren.doe.gov/erec/factsheets/wind.html

Solar and Wind EasementsMontana’s solar and wind easement provisions allow propertyowners to create solar and wind easements for the purpose ofprotecting and maintaining proper access to sunlight and wind.While 32 other states have solar easement provisions, only threeother states have created specific provisions for the creation ofwind easements. Montana’s solar easement law was enacted in1979 and the wind easement was enacted in 1983.Contact Louise Moore, Montana Department of Environmental Quality—406-841-5280

The Saudi Arabia of Wind EnergyConcern over air pollution, global warming, and diminishing oiland gas supplies has generated increasing interest in more sustain-able sources of energy. Wind power, according to William A.Brakken, a consultant on public policy, environmental, and energyissues, is one of the most promising—particularly for the wind-swept Great Plains. In this article, Brakken examines both thecurrent state of wind energy development and its future pros-pects, including the potential for small-scale, dispersed facilitiesversus large-scale wind farms. Includes sidebars about windspeed, small-scale models in the United States, renewable energyin a restructured market, and coal versus wind power.

http://www.nwaf.org/pubs/nwreport/dec_1997/4.html

Utility Wind Interest Group (UWIG)The Utility Wind Interest Group (UWIG) is a non-profit corpora-tion whose mission is to accelerate the appropriate integration ofwind power for utility applications through the coordinated effortsand actions of its members, in collaboration with public andprivate sector stakeholders. Membership is open to utilities andother entities that have an interest in wind generation.http://www.uwig.org

Wind DirectoryThe American Wind Energy Association’s Directory of WindIndustry Members is produced by AWEA’s Membership ServicesDepartment. Search it to obtain wind energy services and equip-ment from companies who have demonstrated a commitment towind and renewable technology and adhere to AWEA’s code ofbusiness ethics.http://www.awea.org/directory/

Wind Energy AtlasThis atlas estimates wind energy resource for the United States 29


and its territories andindicates general areas where a high wind resource may exist. Thisinformation is valuable to wind energy developers and potentialwind energy users because it allows them to choose a general areaof estimated high wind resource for more detailed examination. Asiting document, such as that written by Hiester and Pennell(1981), can assist a potential user in going from wind resourceassessment to site selection.

http://rredc.nrel.gov/wind/pubs/atlas/

Wind Energy ManualThough specific to Iowa, this online Wind Energy Manual ad-dresses most of the technical, environmental and policy issuessurrounding wind energy development. The site also gives visitorsa history of wind energy, a primer on wind and wind power,descriptions of wind energy systems, wind energy data andconversion tables, a bibliography, plus links to businesses, organi-zations and government agencies involved in wind energy.

http://www.energy.iastate.edu/WindManual/IowaWindManual.html

Wind Energy Potential in the United StatesEstimates of the electricity that could potentially be generated bywind power and of the land area available for wind energy havebeen calculated for the contiguous United States. The estimatesare based on published wind resource data and exclude windylands that are not suitable for development as a result of environ-mental and land-use considerations. Despite these exclusions, thepotential electric power from wind energy is surprisingly large.Good wind areas, which cover 6 percent of the contiguous U.S.land area, have the potential to supply more than one and a halftimes the current electricity consumption of the United States.Technology under development today will be capable of produc-ing electricity economically from good wind sites in many regionsof the country.http://www.nrel.gov/wind/potential.html

Wind Energy System CreditMontana allows a 35% tax credit for an individual, partnership orcorporation which makes an investment of $5,000 or more in awind electricity generating system or facilities to manufacturewind energy equipment. Eligible property includes wind energysystem equipment, transmission lines, and equipment used in themanufacture of wind energy devices.

http://www.energizemontana.com

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Wind Energy System or Manufacturing Facility CreditMontana allows a 35% tax credit for an individual, partnership orcorporation that makes an investment of $5,000 or more in awind electricity generating system or facilities to manufacturewind energy equipment. Eligible property includes wind energysystem equipment, transmission lines, and equipment used in themanufacture of wind energy devices.Contact the Montana Department of Environmental Quality— 406-444-2544

Wind Powering AmericaWind Powering America is a commitment to dramatically increasethe use of wind energy in the United States. This initiative willestablish new sources of income for American farmers, NativeAmericans, and other rural landowners, and meet the growingdemand for clean sources of electricity. Through Wind PoweringAmerica, the United States will achieve targeted regional eco-nomic development, protect the local environment, reduce airpollution, lessen the risks of global climate change, and increaseenergy security.http://www.eren.doe.gov/windpoweringamerica/

Wind Potential in the United States: U.S. Wind MapsThe wind in the United States could produce more than 4.4trillion kWh of electricity each year—more than one and one-halftimes the 2.7 trillion kWh of electricity consumed in the UnitedStates in 1990. This website includes a map that shows annualaverage wind resources using the seven wind power classes, whichare ranges used to describe the energy contained in the wind.Maps showing the U.S. annual wind power resource, annual windpower resource in Alaska and Hawaii and the percent of U.S. landarea with an annual wind resource of Class 3 or above can also befound at:http://www.nrel.gov/wind/usmaps.html

WindustryFocuses on economic development from wind energy, valuationof environmental benefits, and distributed generation. Windustrypromotes wind energy through educational materials and techni-cal assistance to rural landowners, local communities and utilities,and state, regional, and nonprofit groups. Windustry’s websitefeatures: wind basics, wind opportunities, wind turbine sites, awind calculator, curriculum, resource library, and news andevents.http://www.windustry.org/default.htm

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