Southwest Windpower - Renewable Energy Made Simple

DOING THEIR PART: Couple banks on wind by setting up backyard turbine

Sun-Gazette.com
October 15, 2009
http://www.sungazette.com

MONTGOMERY - Debbie and Larry Stout don't want to be blown away by rising energy costs.

The Clinton Township couple on Wednesday installed a turbine on their property atop Penny Hill on Pennywood Avenue. The turbine is intended to harness the power of the wind and trim their energy bills by as much as two-thirds.

Keenly aware of a 30-percent hike in electrical rates at the end of the year, as a result of lifting electric rate caps, the Stouts said they consider the Skystream turbine, which cost $18,500 to have installed by Trehab Renewable Energy of Montrose, a long-term and potentially wise investment, considering the rising cost of energy, the need to rely less on fossil fuels and an environmental movement to reduce the carbon footprint.

"We consider it an investment in our future," said Larry Stout, a business speaker and educator. "Where are you going to put your money? The stock market is iffy and the banks don't have a high-interest return."

"We like to try to invest, but things are so risky," added Debbie Stout, a nurse at Geisinger Medical Center. "We're going to have an initial setback. But we're going to get it back. This is something that God gave us. It blows by us every day ... if we can just tap into it."

The 45-foot whisper-quiet turbine conceivably could trim their energy costs by as much as 20 percent to 80 percent, according to the company.

Anticipated savings likely will be in the 65-percent range, Trehab spokeswoman Sandra Babuka said.

It works when the wind speed reaches 8 mph, Babuka said.

"Any extra energy is fed into the electric grid, spinning the meter backward," she said.

The silver turbine with its rotors was erected without a hitch within a few hours by crews using a crane and laborers securing the bolts into place, much to the delight of the homeowners, who captured the moment on video.

In addition to being the first on their block to get a wind turbine, the Stouts are eligible for a renewable energy tax credit that was made available after President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law on Feb. 17.

The bill improved upon the 2008 tax credit by removing cost caps. The change allows the Stouts to take a 30-percent tax credit off the installed cost of their wind turbine, Babuka said.

The property is relatively unobstructed by trees, which is good for the turbine's efficiency. Deciduous trees - those that lose their leaves - aren't as much of a problem as pine trees, Babuka said. Pine trees act as a natural barrier to wind flow.

"Their installment was done under normal conditions," Babuka said. "Normal conditions" include installation within 200 feet of a breaker box and in soil that does not contain heavy rock, she said.

While the generator kicks into action at 8 mph, the device runs efficiently at 12- to 20-mph winds. The turbine connects into the electric grid, so the Stouts will never be without power.

The Stouts said they can't wait to compare their bills. They are paying an average of slightly more than $100 per month on their electric bill and want to see what the immediate savings will be.

It's not the first renewable energy project on their property.

They had solar panels put on their house to provide energy to heat their water.

"In the summer, we save on those costs that normally would require a boiler to heat the water," Debbie Stout said.

The green-minded couple said they began exploring the concept of a wind turbine six months ago and went to township supervisors about what to do.

"They helped out by telling us the steps to obtain the proper variance to abide by zoning requirements," Larry Stout said.

The township ordinance limits structures higher than 20 feet, Debbie Stout said. Buildings such as barns and silos are exempt.

"We're consuming more and more energy for convenience and for comfort," Debbie Stout said, encouraging others to conserve wherever they can and consider renewable energy products.

What about it catching on with the neighbors who live on the hill overlooking the Lycoming County landfill?
"It's really up to them, but we can see it happening," Larry Stout said.