NEWS Power is blowin' in the wind DAVID Ladenheim is something of a pioneer. The West Hurley resident's home is one of only two in the Central Hudson electric grid that is powered almost entirely by the wind. A former heavy equipment operator, Ladenheim now is a certified dealer of wind turbines, and he installed his own within the last year. He now powers approximately 75 percent of his home with the Sky Stream 3.7, a turbine made by Southwest Windpower. "I've been involved with transportation and heavy equipment my whole life. I've used a lot of gasoline," Ladenheim said. "I started looking at wind turbines and saw that we really have to use things like this to reduce our dependence on oil." Turbines like Ladenheim's, which stands 69{ feet high, convert wind into household energy with wind speeds as low as 12 mph and provide enough electricity to power all the standard household appliances. Ladenheim's home has an air conditioner, computer, coffee machine, microwave oven and dishwasher, among other things. WITH GLOBAL warming issues becoming more pressing by the day, Ladenheim certainly isn't the only one in the Hudson Valley who believes wind power is one of the renewable energy sources the nation must look toward. "We have to promote all kinds of renewable energy sources," said U.S. Rep. John Hall, D-Dover Plains. "We're pushing wind as one of the most important sources." Hall - a former Saugerties resident, school board member and Ulster County legislator, and a founder of the band Orleans - recently arranged to buy 1,500 kilowatt hours of wind-generated energy for his Dover Plains home. Hall also has taken on the task of making wind power more affordable to the general public. Ladenheim, after all, spent $18,500 on his turbine, including installation costs. He hopes to recoup his investment in five to 10 years through energy cost savings. HALL, a first-term member of Congress, is a sponsor of the Rural Wind Energy Development Act, a bill currently in the House of Representatives that would provide a tax credit for the installation of wind energy equipment. "This would make it easier for families, small business and farms to use wind power," Hall said. "The problem for most people is the upfront cost, not to mention installation. ... There is currently no federal support for residential wind energy." Hall pointed out that federal rebates currently apply only to large-scale wind operations. If his bill passes, rebates will be available to everyone, though it should be noted there already are benefits to installing a wind turbine. AMONG them: * The New York State Energy Research and Development Association (NYSERDA), offers significant rebates, some as high as 50 percent of the total cost. * Electric utilities all over the country, including Poughkeepsie-based Central Hudson, are beginning to participate in net-metering, a practice that allows customers with small wind and solar energy demands to sell excess energy back to their power company. Net-metering is offered in 38 states and is often state-mandated. "When the system is producing more electricity than a home is using, that extra amount flows through their meter and into the grid, literally spinning their meter backwards," said John Maserjian, a spokesman for Central Hudson. Besides net-metering, excess power can be saved through a battery bank, which simply stores the energy until it is needed. Maserjian said there are about 200 solar energy systems in Central Hudson's eight-county territory, compared to just two wind power systems - an indication of the latter's high cost factor. ANDY Kruse, vice president and co-founder of Southwest Windpower, was asked whether he thought the cost of wind turbines was coming down to a point where it is financially feasible for most people. "Absolutely, yes," Kruse said. "The industry largely has been focused on developing a way to drive the cost down for energy products." The costs for wind turbines can vary significantly, Kruse said, pointing to three key factors: the installation cost, the average wind speed in a given area, and what the energy costs are for the utility. "I would estimate that in New York, if you have about 12 mph winds and you're part of the NYSERDA incentive program - which rebates about 50 percent of a system - you can recoup your money in five to seven years," Kruse said. THE IDEA of having personal, home-operated wind turbines has become increasingly popular over the past few years, particularly in Canada, Germany and Spain. But many people who are interested in wind power are scared off by the prospect of a noisy product, which turbines historically have been. Newer units, however, are smaller and quieter. "Mine makes less noise than an air conditioner," Ladenheim said, noting that his neighbors weren't even aware he had a wind turbine until he pointed it out. "I have a neighbor 2{ blocks away who uses a leaf blower and it drowns out the noise of the turbine." Ladenheim generally gets wind readings from 3 to 18 mph. In the wintertime, he said, the wind can reach 25 mph because there are no leaves on the trees acting as a deterrent. Southwest Windpower's Web site provides consumers with the ability to check wind speeds in their area. BUT DESPITE their efficiency with low wind speeds, turbines such as the Sky Stream still need considerable space - at least an acre in most cases. And depending on what type of region the turbine is placed in - high or low wind -- it can range in height from 30 to 100 feet. Kruse said that in a region like upstate New York, where winds often are obstructed by the density of trees, taller poles are needed. LANDENHEIM said he always has held a certain admiration for the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Depression-era works program that constructed buildings in city, state and national parks, as well as power and telephone lines. He said he believes in the American ideal and work ethic behind the program and thinks it's an approach that should be taken toward a growing energy crisis. In the meantime, he hopes to inspire others to take charge, a sentiment that Hall shares. "People are very interested in the issue of energy dependence," the congressman said. "Between national security and global warming, this is the right time to address the issue." Southwest Windpower - Renewable Energy Made Simple |
