Wind energy represents a growing sector of the energy market throughout our nation.. Considered a renewable energy resource, generation of electricity via wind is a clean method of powering our lives. According to Electric Power and Renewable Energy (EERC), only 1% of the electricity generated in North Dakota comes from renewable resources. 95% of our electricity comes from coal, and 4% comes from hydro-electric power from the Garrison Dam.
Large scale wind farm operations in North Dakota began in 2002, according to windpoweringamerica.gov, but major capacity was not reached until 2009. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) notes that North Dakota is currently 9th in overall installed capacity to produce wind power, not to be confused with production. The EERE states that North Dakota produces 0.4% of our nation’s non-hydro, renewable energy. Nationalwind.com, among others, notes that our state has the highest overall wind potential of any state. Some figures put North Dakota closer to 6th place on the overall wind potential, but nevertheless, it is clear that there is room for expansion of wind turbines in North Dakota. This becomes even more apparent when one realizes that Minnesota currently has double the overall installed wind energy capacity, while Iowa has 2.5 times more capacity to harness wind power than we do.
Currently, there are 5 wind farms here, based near Center, Edgeley, Kulm, Wilton, & south of Langdon. The wind farm at Edgeley allows customers to pay an extra fee to buy blocks of this ‘clean’ electricity. Florida Power & Light, which has 49 wind operations in 15-20 states, owns the actual wind farms. With a cost of about $1 million per megawatt installed, wind turbines are no small investment.
How much electricity can a wind turbine provide? The average turbine in North Dakota can produce about 1.5 megawatts of electricity when being powered at or near maximum capacity, which is only around 1/3 of the time. Wind-watch.org states that a turbine of this size will power 332 homes over a year at an average production rate. Figures from windpoweringamerica.gov show this number being closer to 500 homes. What occurs to me, originally being from a farming community of 300 people, is how 1 turbine could supply household electricity for countless small towns scattered throughout North Dakota. Instead of taking up large tracts of land with 100+ turbines, annexing 1-2 acres of land for a turbine near each town could provide clean energy for much of our state. It should not be difficult to find a landowner who is willing to lease their land for this, as they receive on average between $2000-$4000+ per turbine installed, according to windpoweringamerica.gov. Most leases even state that the company leasing the property will cover any property tax increase caused by the installation of a turbine.
Capturing wind energy via large turbines is still in its infancy in North Dakota, yet it has already had a major economic impact on our state. As long as the current trend continues, and turbines are becoming ever more efficient, we should expect to see a continual increase of wind energy projects in North Dakota.
No comments:
Post a Comment