HOME > NEWS & PRESS > NEWS ITEM Colorado farmer goes green with wind powerShareFOX 21 News Colorado BENNETT, COLO. -- When we think of wind power what we often picture are large-scale wind farms. But just like with solar panels, there is a growing movement for wind power on a smaller scale. Small-wind power is generally measured by the kilowatt, instead of the megawatt. The turbines are shorter, smaller, and unlike their larger counterparts, unlikely to interfere with the migratory patterns of birds. In wind-rich eastern Colorado, they can provide a lot of energy needs. At Eastern Plains Natural Food Co-op, a free range poultry farm in Bennett, equipment is operated by wind. Owner Dallas Gilbert has always been interested in alternative energy. He has solar panels to light his outbuildings and was planning on using them for his house. "They just haven't really come down in price yet and the wind energy has," he said. Small-wind turbines for homes and farms are usually about two kilowatts--a cost of $6,000 to $12,000. Gilbert's cost was offset by a Colorado Department of Agriculture's Advancing Colorado's Renewable Energy (ACRE) grant, which paid for 25 percent. Raphael Shay is the sustainability project manager for iCAST. "Now we have five wind turbines going up in all of eastern Colorado, so five different rural electrical associations are going to have a pilot project on their grid," Shay said. Gilbert uses most of the energy himself, but on an especially windy day his meter often runs backward--feeding into the grid. "I'm really happy I can do that because that means other people can benefit from the green energy," he said. He can also get energy from the grid when the air is still, which isn't too often. "Eastern Colorado has some of the world's best high quality wind," said Tony Frank, director of Renewable Energy Development for the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union. He says having a grid backup has been an important step in putting wind to use. "It is very popular in interest, and it is becoming very popular in actually implementing it. It is just emerging," said Frank. In a way, the use of wind energy is helping farming go back to its roots. "You can still see windmills pumping water in eastern Colorado and all of farm country. We're seeing a new emergence," Frank explained. He says small wind can produce anywhere from 25 percent to 100 percent of energy needs. The 1.8 kilowatt Skystream on Gilbert's farm will generate about one-third of his energy use and reduce carbon emissions by 9,000 pounds. "So this turbine is offsetting the average emissions of the average American," said Shay. "So when you deal with my farm you'll not only be getting animals that are humanely raised and raised naturally, you'll be reducing your carbon footprint," said Gilbert. Experts say this green energy is just getting started. "I think you're going to see more and more of it. The technology and the confidence around the technology is growing. You're going to see small wind turbines and solar and energy efficiency and how it works with the grid all working together," said Frank. Frank says there are places along the front range near Colorado Springs where wind could work. He says the best thing to do is check out a wind map. |
