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Power generation changes to be blowing into Seward soon

The Seward Log Phoenix
June 26, 2008
www.thesewardphoenixlog.com
By Gail L. Richards

After searching high and low for an alternative to the skyrocketing costs of fuel and electricity, Dennis and Theresa Butts finally found a reliable source of affordable energy for their business, Quality Marine of Alaska.

They purchased a Skystream 3.7 wind generator.

Here’s how the system works, as interpreted from information on the product Website, skystreamenergy.com:

The wind turbine is connected to a home or business by an underground 220 volt line that channels electricity first through a safety disconnect switch, then into the property owner’s breaker box and building where the energy is eventually used.

Since this particular system requires a building to remain connected to public utility lines, property owners always have power if the public utility is working, as the utility serves as a back-up supply of power if the wind stops blowing.

When the wind turbine is producing power, the building automatically uses that energy first. If more energy is needed, it is drawn from the public utility.

When high winds blow for a long time, or if a building’s energy use slows, power flows back into the public utility, which causes the electric meter to spin backwards. This energy can then be used later when there is no wind, or it may be transferred to other users.

In 37 states, where people are implementing similar systems for generating sustainable, renewable clean power, many utility companies are offering credit, or even paying for excess power that flows back into their grid for other residents to use.

In Alaska, even though no law requires it yet, Golden Valley Electric in Fairbanks offers such a program. According to Butts, Homer Electric is currently establishing a similar method of compensating independent energy producers as well, although at the time this story went to press calls to the utility for verification of this fact had not been returned.

The Butts and Cliff Young — who said that he’s been trying since May to get permission from the electric utility to connect the same model of wind generator to the grid at his Box Canyon Cabins — claim that they don’t want money for extra power that their systems generate.

They simply want the nod to erect their own sources of power in preparation for what is perceived as a never-ending escalation of energy costs, according to both parties.

After the Butts purchased their wind tower from Susitna Energy in Anchorage, they had Metco pour a concrete base, which was designed by an engineer of the tower’s manufacturing company, Southwest Windpower.

Certified technicians from Service Electric were scheduled to install necessary electrical components last week.

The only item left on the Butts’ to-do list before putting their alternate source of power to use was to gain a stamp of approval from the city utility manager for connecting their wind generator to the existing power grid.

“The turbine won’t work if it’s not connected to the utility grid,” Theresa Butts said.

“One of the main concerns that the city seems to have about these systems is the issue of safety when they’re back-feeding into the utility lines,” Young said. “But not only is the turbine designed to shut down if the power goes out, it can be manually shut off at the building by flipping the disconnect switch if it makes the repairmen feel better when they’re working on the lines.”

Young, who estimates the total cost of buying and installing a Skystream 3.7 at nearly $13,000, said that he suspects the city is nervous about getting in a position where it might have to pay residents money for power that’s generated through independent systems.

“That’s not why I’m doing this,” he said. “I’m not trying to get them to pay me for my power. I’m trying to get ahead of the power curve — to offset high costs.

Things are getting so expensive anymore, and I figure, according to the prices we pay for everything right now, we’ll have the thing paid for in about four years.”

Utility manager Tim Barnum said that the city is not intentionally holding up the installation of wind turbines.

Instead, delays appear to be the result of residents being ready for a change in power production before the utility has policies in place to accommodate those changes.

“The electric utility is attempting to work with (the Butts) and others that have made similar requests,” he said. “The process of interconnecting with a utility grid is somewhat complicated. The requirements to ensure safety and to determine the rate structures are detailed,” Barnum said.

“The electric utility does not currently have a tariff for purchasing ‘non-firm’ power from any potential power suppliers. We have not been able to develop the full scope of requirements for equipment, testing, verification and payment schedules needed to allow any interconnection to take place,” he said.

The Butts, who were scheduled to meet with Barnum and City Manager Phillip Oates after this article was written for further discussion, said they want communications about the issue to remain positive.

“I see this as a really great thing,” Theresa Butts said. “This turbine is the cream-of-the-crop, designed specifically for grid connection, and is being used successfully across the country. We anticipate being able to accommodate any reasonable mandate by the utility without much trouble.”