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| 1/13/2010 | Email this article • Print this article | Local Communities Begin Relying on Wind Energy
By Amy Doeun
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| Willmar, MN wind turbines. (Jon Folkedahl) |
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Communities around the world have been rocked by a global energy crisis. As the cost of fuel rises many families are left struggling to pay the bills for transportation as well as energy use at home. Ryan Stockwell, Director of Energy and Agriculture at the Minnesota Project, told HMONG TIMES, "There is an underlying sentiment for the need for self generation, sustainability."
"Wind energy continues to experience double digit growth rates because of the relatively cheap technology and the widespread availability of wind resources, and numerous studies have now shown that locally-owned wind projects produce disproportionate benefits to the local community and region where they are built. This presents community wind energy development as a stand-out opportunity for communities across America to pursue locally-owned projects that will help meet their electricity needs and contribute to energy independence while also providing tremendous economic benefits."
Three communities in Minnesota and South Dakota have decided that wind is their answer for the need of "self generation, sustainability." The City of Willmar in Minnesota and the counties of Winona, Minnesota and Miner, South Dakota have all pledged their support to wind energy. For all of these communities the planning stage has been lengthy and a certain level of difficulty kept the project from fast completion.
Major barriers to such projects include the involvement of energy giants and public policy which often supports such corporations. The Minnesota project has published a report, Lessons and Concepts for Advancing Community Wind, detailing the course of actions, difficulties and successes of the three participating communities.
But for many residents of Minnesota living in urban or suburban communities the options for community wide wind projects just are not there, especially when there is the presence of an energy giant in the area. Stockwell added, "There are more limited options based on the fact that it requires open land to set up the turbines." However scaled down turbines and towers are becoming more popular. "The City of Woodbury passed ordinances last fall to allow some smaller systems and prohibiting larger turbines." So even in the Twin Cities communities are supporting wind.
But one key to the energy efficiency equation is policy. If some changes were made in public policy and regulatory methods it would, "allow more opportunities for residents." For example if you set up a turbine on your property the utility company will most likely want, "to own it themselves because when they don't own it they don't profit as much."
Net metering, a law passed in 1982, is a "concept where people can own power generation systems behind the meter. Behind the meter means that you use your power first and foremost. If at any time during the day you are producing more then you are using it exports it on to the grid." The utility company then pays you for the energy you deliver to them at a higher rate, 6 or 7 cents a Killowatt hour. However the ceiling for these systems is 40 KW meaning that if you have a system that produces more energy than 40 KW, for example a 100 KW wind turbine, the utility company is not required to pay you a better rate and instead will give you a wholesale rate of 1-2 cents a KW hour.
If this and other policies were changed, then options would become available to individual consumers, but in order for the policies to change it requires a community effort, "Any one person trying to take on an Xcel is a pretty big task." There are direct cash grants available from the Department of Energy to allow for the set up of such systems and to help consumers with the initial cost.
"Another option would be to find an open area maybe an industrial space for community wind investors." The complexities of changing policy and setting up wind systems are many as are the barriers. This winter the cost of energy is rising once again. Solutions are required. The report is designed to allow communities and individuals to know their options. "There is no one path to get these projects up and running, there are barriers, we need broader solutions to address barriers," This is the goal of the Minnesota project.
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St. Paul, MN
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