 Wind Powered Energy At The
Jacobsen Tortoise Farm LLC
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 Annual Energy Production (Jacobs 31-20) at Jacobsen Tortoise Farm
1st Year ending- August 11, 2008 = 29,489 Kwh
- This offset 29.8 Tons of Carbon Dioxide that would have been produced by a coal fed power generation facility.
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Glen Jacobsen, Assistant Renville County Attorney, owns a farm. Not your ordinary farm, but the Jacobsen Tortoise Farm LLC near Bird Island, Minnesota. Glen had been working with endangered species of turtles and tortoises for over 20 years. Because his unique farm demands a lot of power for warmth and light which the turtles need to thrive, he had been researching renewable energy products to offset the power cost.
During a gathering at the Minnesota Science Museum, Glen met David Winkelman of WERC and they discussed his renewable energy possibilities. Afterwards, Glen decided that wind power was the way to go because of location and favorable wind speed averages at his site. A Jacobs 31-20 wind turbine with a 120 foot tower, installed by WERC would be the product and answer he was looking for.
 Because tower heights were limited to 100 feet, Glen worked with the Renville County Planning and Zoning Commission to have it changed to 200 feet. (The FAA requires more information and red warning lights on towers in excess of 200 feet.)
The Jacobsen Tortoise Farm LLC also applied and received a grant to offset the cost of the turbine by one quarter. An interconnection agreement was also made with McLeod Power Coop allowing Glen to sell excess power generated by the turbine back to the power company. With that, a building permit was acquired and the foundation for the tower was begun.
 Glen is a Trustee and legal advisor for the World Chelonian Trust (WCT). WCT is a world organization dedicated to the care, conservation and species survival of fresh water turtles and tortoises. This is done by actively supporting in-situ conservation efforts, field research and veterinary research. In addition to this WCT provides information and guidance to individuals and organizations to further the successful maintenance and propagation of captive populations.
 Glen is also a member and past President of the Minnesota Herpetological Society which is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization open to anyone with an interest in amphibians and reptiles.
The purpose of the MHS is to:
- Further the education of the membership and the general public in care and captive propagation of reptiles and amphibians.
- Educate the members and the general public on the ecological role of reptiles and amphibians.
- Promote the study and conservation of reptiles and amphibians.
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