INDEPENDENT ND LIKES SMALL WIND

Big plans for small wind
Christopher Bjorke, December 27, 2009 (Bismarck Rtribune)

"Wind power has been adding to North Dakota’s power generation capacity in multi-megawatt surges as turbine towers spring up across the landscape.

"But apart from major wind farms, individuals can pull a couple of kilowatts from the air on a smaller scale with “small wind,” a niche power source that grew by 78 percent in the United States last year, according to the American Wind Energy Association…[ Art Mariner, owner of ND’s GR-8 Country Wind Power] installs an $18,000 to $19,000 tower and turbine unit about every two months, and expects to sell more in the spring…[mostly] on farms and ranches…"

One thing North Dakota has is wind. (click to enlarge)

"…[P]ower generation capacities [of] around 2.4 kilowatts an hour…take out a chunk of electricity expenses…Government tax incentives also will take out a chunk of an investment in small wind. The federal government provides a tax credit for 30 percent of the cost, up to $4,000. North Dakota income tax offered credit for wind power installation until the ND-2 individual tax form was phased out this year, but it still offers an incentive for business filers [and]…Property owners in the state can get a five-year exemption for the value of a wind tower on tax assessments…

"Mariner, who also owns a construction company, said he became interested in wind power not so much out of an interest in green power, but in part because wind towers have become such common sights on the North Dakota horizon. He believes the same thing is driving customer interest…"

The small wind market is growing all over the country. (click to enlarge)

"Kay Fried and her husband Marv installed a turbine on their ranch north of Bismarck this past summer. She said she has had a fascination with wind turbines…[though they are not greens]…[The] turbine provides about 300 kilowatts a month, about a third of their electricity…[and] is quieter than the nearby road or the jets that fly overhead…

"…Height and lot-size requirements prevent construction on most [Bismarck] residential lots…but some of the rural subdivisions would allow towers…Generation capacity for [most GR-8 small wind towers is]…around 2 kilowatts…[They] vary from 33 to 45 feet…[and output] depends a lot on location. Homes can draw power from a turbine while the wind is blowing and switch to the regular energy grid when it is calm. If a turbine generates more power than a home can use, the excess is put back on the grid, and utility companies reimburse owners…[O]il billionaire Harold Hamm [recently] inquired about using portable turbines to power his oil wells in the Bakken Formation…"