NEWS

These Eggs Are ‘Green’

Truro Daily News (NS)
October 31, 2007
www.trurodaily.com

MASSTOWN – A Masstown farmer is producing green eggs but it has nothing to do with Dr. Seuss.

Glen Jennings has installed three wind turbines at his Shore Road poultry farm in the first of a three-phase project. His goal is to produce enough power to operate his farm, home and his father Cecil’s home.

“It doesn’t get any better than that,” said Jennings, who operates the fourth-generation farm.
He admits wind was always on his mind but it really ignited a couple of years ago after picking up a business card from Second Source Power Company at a Halifax trade show. At first, his interest was primarily dollars and cents but after speaking with company president Mark Richard, Jennings realized the potential benefits for the environment.
The three Skystream 3.7 turbines are generating 75 per cent of the power needed to run the farm, which has 12,000 laying chickens producing 10,000 eggs a day.

It is located along the Cobequid Bay with loads of wind to harvest.

“If I had a quarter for every time I chased this hat across the field I’d probably be retired,” Jennings told a crowd gathered at the farm.

While wind power was once only for larger corporations it is becoming increasingly more attractive as oil nears $100 per barrel.

“Twenty years ago a project like this would have been inconceivable. Wind turbines were expensive and unreliable,” said Nova Scotia Power’s Margaret Murphy. “Projects like this one will inspire others. The lessons learned here will benefit all who follow in your path.”
Second Source vice-president Sandy Hines said the turbines cost between $20,000 and $28,000 and can be installed in six weeks.

“One of these turbines for a reasonably sized home will offset your electricity cost,” he said.
The power generated by the turbines is transferred to the home’s power panel to be used as electricity. When the turbines are generating more power than needed, power goes back on the grid and is used by other customers. In effect, the Jennings’ power meter would spin backwards and the power company would provide them with a credit.

The Windsor-based company has towers which stand between 33 and 110 feet high. It expects to have about 20 turbines operational by the end of 2007.