PCW 1C 8ulLu A WlnulA8M

The first step in building a wind farm is choosing a location that has enough wind resources. The best sites for commercial wind farms have
wind speed of 13 miles per hour (6 meters/second) or more, says the American Wind Energy Association. Too much wind can actually
strain equipment and make the project more expensive.
Special wind speed maps will help you identify a region with suitable wind resources. For example, the U.S. Department of Energy offers
wind map resources. A tool called an anemometer can help measure wind energy at the specific site. (Some states offer anemometer loan
programs.) Your engineer may use specialized services and software, such as windNavigator and GHWindFarmer, to analyze topography,
weather conditions, and aerodynamics in order to optimize the location.
Further, you'll need to consider special concerns of the target location, such as road access, potential noise impacts, flickering shadows
from the blades, and cultural issues.
Spinning blades on wind turbines kill endangered birds, bats, raptors, and waterfowl, so its best to position turbines away from busy
wildlife corridors and annual migratory paths.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Wind Turbine Guidelines Advisory Committee recommends using a tiered approach that includes a
preliminary assessment, site characterization, and field studies to predict the species and habitats that would be harmed by the wind farm.
As the site developer, youll need to work closely with the appropriate government agency (or permitting authority) to reduce and mitigate
deaths of animals due to the wind farm.
In some cases, you may be allowed to build the wind farm if you alter its operation to be more wildlife-friendly. For example, you could be
required to temporarily stop turbines during migration season and during periods of low wind when bats are most active and power yield is
minimal. Also, color of the wind turbines can influence kill rates.
If you plan an offshore wind farm, you'll need to consider how placement of the turbines may affect fish and marine life that live in the
water nearby.
Think about how much energy you want to produce -- or how much the site can produce -- and how much money you can spend.
Purchasing wind turbines alone can set you back an average of US $1.37 million per megawatt of capacity.
Generally, its cheaper for utilities to develop wind power facilities than it is for private investors, because utilities can tap into favorable
financing structures that reduce costs by about 30%, or about 1.4 cents per kilowatt-hour, says a report funded by the U.S. Department of
Energy.
Government stimulus programs also make it easier to develop a wind farm. The production tax credit (PTC) now provides a 2.1/kilowatt-
hour tax credit during the first decade of operation. Currently, PTC is available for facilities placed in service through 2012.
Alternately, under a temporary federal program, you can take either a 30% investment tax credit or a 30% cash grant instead of the PTC.
An analysis by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory shows that these options have particularly attractive financial benefits for
community wind projects.
To project the levelized cost of financing your wind project, plug your specific details into the interactive tools provided by the National
Renewable Energy Laboratory. Also, research the state and federal incentives available for renewable energy projects in your area.
Electricity producers are governed by federal laws such as the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA), the Energy Policy Act
of 2005 (EPACT 2005), and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007).
In addition, individual states have different interpretations of how these federal laws apply, and they have varying mandates to promote
renewable energy through Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) legislation.
A lawyer or consultant specialized in renewable energy development can help you navigate the laws governing your proposed project. You
will also need various building and environmental permits from government agencies.
If your wind farm will sit on government property, or has a federal agency partner, permitting can be contingent on a formal environmental
impact assessment process. For example, wind farms placed on property managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management are governed
by certain guidelines intended to protect federally protected species and other natural resources.
Electricity producers are governed by federal laws such as the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA), the Energy Policy Act
of 2005 (EPACT 2005), and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007).
In addition, individual states have different interpretations of how these federal laws apply, and they have varying mandates to promote
renewable energy through Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) legislation.
A lawyer or consultant specialized in renewable energy development can help you navigate the laws governing your proposed project. You
will also need various building and environmental permits from government agencies.
If your wind farm will sit on government property, or has a federal agency partner, permitting can be contingent on a formal environmental
impact assessment process. For example, wind farms placed on property managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management are governed
by certain guidelines intended to protect federally protected species and other natural resources.
Modern wind turbines are sleeker and bigger than old-fashioned windmills, with enormous blades and towers as tall as high-rise buildings.
The precise placement of these turbines on a wind farm affects its overall energy production.
As a general rule, the larger the wind turbine, the greater its generation capacity. The most commonly installed wind turbine has a capacity
rating of 1.5 megawatts and can power 500 homes. Newer models run even bigger. General Electrics website lists sizes up to 3.6
megawatts. Other wind turbine manufacturers include Vestas, Siemens, Mitsubishi, Suzlon, Clipper, Nordex, and Gamesa.
Large and heavy wind turbines require bigger foundations and cost more to install. Offshore wind turbines must be designed for ocean
conditions. Keep in mind that wind turbines rarely run at full capacity since their energy generation is weather-dependent.
In addition to wind turbines, a wind farm requires an electrical power collection system, transformers, a communications network, and
substations. A SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition information system) is used to monitor performance. Your engineer will
recommend suitable equipment and turbine placement based on your site, finances, and energy goals.
If youre planning a commercial-scale wind farm, you will need to a way to deliver energy to wholesale or retail customers. Typically this
requires transmission lines linking the output of your wind farm to the electric power transmission network, or energy "grid, in your region.
Commercial wind farms sited in remote locations can find it a challenge to secure transmission capacity and interconnectivity with the grid.
Alternatively, smaller wind farms can provide a dedicated source of electricity for a community or business. In these cases, the wind farm
may not require a link to the regular electric grid. However, to sell excess power, you still need a way to deliver that power to the electric
utility.
Check with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which works with wind developers to secure transmission capacity and
interconnectivity. The Utility Wind Integration Group also provides resources for connecting a wind farm into the electric system.
Wind farm construction can be completed within a few months. However, you may first need to build roads into the site for hauling in the
wind turbines and other equipment.
For each wind turbine, youll need to excavate a hole and fill it with reinforced concrete to serve as a stabilizing foundation. This process is
more demanding in rocky conditions or offshore wind farms. Once the foundation is prepared, erect the turbines with specialized hoists.
Put the electrical wiring and systems in place, and run tests to ensure that all the elements are operating properly. It often takes six
months before all the kinks are ironed out and the wind farm achieves full commercial production capacity.
Each wind turbine needs about a weeks worth of routine maintenance per year. The American Wind Energy Association says it takes one
wind technician to service each 10 megawatts of installed generating capacity.
Whats next? Enjoy the breeze while the wind works for you!