JACOBS 31-20 - SKYSTREAM 3.7 - NEX-GEN 12.5 - VENTERA - VT 10-240 - NORTHWIND 100
SITE PLANS - GRANT WRITING

Electricity Generating Wind Systems
(Small Wind = less than 100kW)

Wind power can be an effective, cost-efficient and environmentally responsible way to meet your energy needs. Wind is an increasingly good investment. Financial incentives, such as income tax deductions, federal and state grants, property tax exemptions, rebates, production tax credits, and green credits may be available to help reduce costs. A properly maintained wind turbine will generate energy for decades to come and is a good investment for your family or business. See - Wind Video

With over 25 years experience installing and servicing small wind turbines of many types WERC offers planning services for small wind turbine owners, includes detailed itemizing of all costs and paybacks.

Payback Considerations:
1) Typical payback for a business is 5-9 years, a farm 6-12 years, - a home 8-20 years
2) Special tax deductions exist
3) Grant funds may be available

Income, Benefits and other Funding Possible for a Small Wind Turbine for Farm or Small Business Use PDF format - Example system: Jacobs 31-20 Wind Turbine with the UL 1741 inverter on a 120' lattice steel tower.

WERC Provides These Services:

• Site planning for optimal placement of towers and ROI
• Sizing, permits, and product sourcing
• Construction of towers, mounting, wiring, testing
• Maintenance and service work on small wind machines

Wind Turbine Site Plans by WERC Provide:

• Necessary information for the wind turbine owner to assess the feasibility of installation costs for the entire project, paybacks, incentives maintenance, insurance, interest costs and other considerations over a 20 year period showing the cash flow and ROI.
• Provides power company interconnection agreements.
• Provides virtual pictures of what the turbine will look like on-site, prior to installation.
• Provides information necessary for building permits.

For a service fee, WERC will visit your site to conduct the measurements, take
photos and provide you with a binder full of technical details on the systems, installation process and guarantees. See Site Plan Details

Interested in seeing an actual working wind turbine?
List, location, and output of installed and commissioned wind systems.

How Is Your Wind Density?
The Department of Energy measures wind power on a scale of 1 (weakest) to 7. If winds on your site are at least class 2 (annual wind speeds averaging 9.8 to 11.5 mph), it may be suitable for wind generation.

For wind energy information, legislation and wind speed maps for each state in the Northwest United States go to www.undeerc.org - States included are Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota,Wisconsin and Wyoming.

2006 Wind Speed Maps for Minnesota (30 meters) (80 meters)
2002 Wind Speed Map for Minnesota (50 meters)

Please remember that wind maps give only broad estimates -- the wind speed on any particular site is largely determined by terrain. Consult WERC to more thoroughly research your wind resource.

Do You Have the Clearance?
A good small wind turbine site is typically at least one acre in size. Turbines must be mounted at least 30 feet above any physical wind barriers (i,e., trees, buildings, or bluffs) within 300 feet to avoid air turbulence. Winds are faster at higher elevations, and wind power increases by a factor of three as speed increases, so even a small boost in height greatly enhances a turbine's output.

Most small wind turbine manufacturers recommend mounting turbines at least 65 feet high, but particular site conditions should be the primary factor when determining tower height. Towers from 80 to 120 feet tall may be optimal.

Zoning restrictions on your site may limit the allowable tower height, requiring you to seek a conditional use permit or variance from your city or county planning department. Local authorities have the discretion to issue zoning waivers for small turbines where appropriate.

• Interested in seeing a working wind turbine? List, location, and output of installed and commissioned wind systems by WERC.

• Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit - Maximum Federal Incentive Small Wind: $500 per 0.5 kW, up to $4,000. More information

• Nation-wide map of small wind incentives Click Here

• Many utilities institute a policy called “net metering” whereby the extra electricity is sold back to the utility. How does Net-Metering Work?
  
  
• Net Metering Incentive - Minnesota - From Dsire Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency
  

• Model Wind Energy Conversion Ordinance for Minnesota Counties
  Does your county have a wind energy conversion ordinance? This Model Ordinance and companion document have been reviewed and approved by the Minnesota Association of County Planning and Zoning Officials.
  
  
• Governor Pawlenty announces Next Generation Energy Initiative
  In an address to the Midwest Ag Energy Network Summit on December 12, 2006, Governor Tim Pawlenty announced a series of proposals for the future of clean energy policy in Minnesota. The governor’s remarks focused on three areas: more renewable energy, more energy efficiency, and lower global warming emissions.
  Published by Fresh-Energy.org
  
  
• Kandiyohi County Small Wind Energy Guide
  Since we believe in the importance of wind as a clean and renewable source of energy, we thought it a good idea to provide information to help those who wish to follow in our path. Published by Kandiyohi County
  
  
• Download Wind Tower Prospect Questionaire (Adobe Acrobat PDF format)
  
  
• Download Inquiry Form for green technologies information. (Adobe Acrobat PDF format)
  
  
• Click here to download the WERC Wind Turbine E-Book which explains the process of having your own small wind turbine.
  
  
• For in-depth look at the technology of wind power click here.
  
  
• 2006 Wind Speed Maps for Minnesota (30 meters) (80 meters)