April 22, 2009 by Robert.

In many school cases schools and other public entities have unique opportunities to help finance wind projects because they qualify for low interest loans, can issue bonds, have lower required rates of return, and generally can get longer financing terms.  Pictured [right] are the Spirit Lake Community School District’s 250 kW and 750 kW wind turbines.  The 750 kW wind turbine was financed through a zero interest loan from the Iowa Energy Center’s Alternative Energy Revolving Loan Program and a low interest loan approved by the Iowa Energy Bank.  (Article and photo from the Windustry Community Wind Toolbox)  Photo credit: Iowa Energy Center

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April 14, 2009 by Robert.

Among the many “good thangs” I could write about here, I am particulary pleased to report that Ventura County now has its first wind turbine.  And I am tickled to be able to say that my work with Prevailing Wind Power, LLC (PWP) was instrumental in making that first installation happen. Here’s a front page story from the Fillmore Gazette (Fillmore, CA) dated Feb. 11, 2009: http://www.fillmoregazette.com/front-page/farming-wind  Sales for wind turbines are not rolling-in quickly (yet), but I am confident that in the 2009 we’ll see several more turbines installed.For many months, I fielded phone inquiries from residents in Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara Counties asking for information about turbines from Southwest WindPower (SWWP).  SWWP is one of the oldest and most popular brands of “Small Wind” turbines, and has tens of thousands of turbines installed worldwide.  Yet, there were no turbines in the local area to which I could point prospective customers.  The closest (to my knowledge) were in the Big Bear / Arrowhead area, over 100 miles away.These “residential” turbines like the SkyStream 3.7 are larger than Air-X turbines common with boats and RVs.  But they are far smaller than thewind turbines that most people associate with Palm Springs or Tehachapi in Southern California or Altamont Pass in Northern California.Concerns over noise or performance or maintenance costs are real and legitimate.  Assuring a prospective buyer that the wind in the trees is louder than a SkyStream, or that ‘we have plenty of wind here’ in California, or that ‘these things last and last’ only goes so far.  For my money, I would want to see/hear for myself.  So, being able to point to a local Skystream unit and an owner that is high-profile and approachable is fantastic.  It’s going to really help sales here in Ventura County, CA.  The SkyStream website has a link for “SkyStreams Near Me” which lets you see if there are any units in your local area.  The new owner, like so many others, is happy to show off their new residential power plant and to tell about the process. Hats-off to the Hammonds for pressing Ventura County, writing letters to local legislators and getting the local media involved.   And hats-off to the Fillmore Gazette for following-up on the issue and getting local legislators “off the dime” and getting the wheelsblades turning.

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