Wind power comes to ISU
Wind generated electricity will save 9,000 coal per year
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Story County Wind Farm northeast of Colo. File photo: Logan Gaedke/Iowa State Daily
On Dec. 16, Iowa State began utilizing six megawatts of wind-generated electricity from a wind farm built by NextEra Energy Resources near Zearing. The six megawatts appropriate 10 percent of the university’s electricity needs.
The wind power will also eliminate the need for an estimated 9,000 tons of coal per year. With this reduction in the amount of fossil fuels the university uses, Iowa State will be able to reduce its carbon footprint.
David Miller, director of facilities and utilities, said that Iowa State decided to use wind energy as a result of the Board of Regents’ sustainability plan adopted about a year ago. The plan states that universities must use 15 percent renewable energy by 2015. With the implementation of wind energy, the university has 10 of the 15 percent covered.
Merry Rankin, director of sustainability programs, agreed that this was a good opportunity for the university.
“Any decrease in energy that comes from nonrenewable resources will certainly reduce our carbon footprint,” Rankin said. “In this case, reducing the need for coal.”
Until Dec. 16, Iowa State produced 75 percent of its energy from the coal plant on campus. The remaining 25 percent was electricity purchased from the electricity wholesale market, noted Jeff Witt, assistant director of utilities. Using wind power will not result in a higher cost to Iowa State, but it will not necessarily save money either.
“We can incorporate the wind with no increase in our utilities charges,” Witt said.
However, wind power is not always the most reliable source of energy. Witt described the source as being variable, as the wind will not always blow at a constant rate. Therefore, Witt explained, sometimes it will cost more to power the university by wind, especially at night and in the early morning when the breeze is weaker. Sometimes it will cost less, especially in the afternoon when the wind is stronger and can produce more energy.
Therefore, Iowa State is guaranteed only four of the six megawatts purchased on any given day, Miller said.
Miller noted there is a potential to reduce the cost of electricity in January and February, the peak months for wind energy, but it still remains to be seen. The amount of wind produced will vary from day to day, and so will the cost, Miller explained.
The wind farm is still being commissioned, and only half of the units — currently about 50 — are running.
The units are still being tested to see if they are working properly. Miller said week by week, more units will begin running. He mentioned he is anxiously awaiting the results of using wind energy.
The results will likely indicate wind energy will reduce the university’s fossil fuel emissions. Miller said he is expecting a six percent reduction in coal emissions.
Though the benefits of using wind energy are positive, the university will not switch completely to being powered by wind energy anytime soon.
Gene Takle, professor of geological and atmospheric science, said that switching completely to wind energy would be unlikely unless someone develops a high-quality and high-density storage mechanism.
Takle noted there is currently research being executed in Iowa to develop a battery storage mechanism. In fact, Takle said, there are individuals on campus thinking of ways to develop energy storage mechanisms.
“There’s a lot of research and experience being gained by how best to utilize wind energy,” Takle said.
How does wind energy work?
The wind blows through a turbine that spins a shaft connected to an electrical generator, similar to one in an automobile. There are magnets in the unit, and when the shaft is spun, it creates a current that is connected to the power grid.
– Information from Gene Takle
The City of Ames will also be utilizing wind power:
City Council decided a year-and-a-half ago to begin using 30 megawatts of wind power. City Council made the decision to utilize the source to bolster the city’s green portfolio, said Donald Kom, director of Ames Electrical Services. The goal was to use 10 percent renewable energy sources by 2015. With the 30 megawatts of wind power, Ames electricity will be running on closer to 15–-17 percent renewable energy sources. In 2010, Ames has already exceeded its goal. Amesy will need to slightly increase the cost of power in order to run about 15 percent on wind energy, Kom noted.
Comments
Wind energy could be the energy source of the future. Wind energy is also a clean source of energy but these stories are nearly always incomplete. The part that is usually left out is that wind energy costs more than coal at the present time. The university could theoretically use much more wind energy than it does now but there is a cost. Students are one of the biggest sources of income for the university so that is where much of the funding will have to come from. It is simply a trade off of carbon for dollars. If you truley want to reduce your carbon footprint with wind power you must be prepared to pay for it with higher tuition.
This is not a story of glamour and planet saving heroics like it's usually made out to be. It's simple economics and whether you are willing to pay.
True. What's more important, money or the environment?
Some of the costs of wind energy also goes to job growth and manufacturing. Maybe that's better for the overall economy even if it costs a few more dollars right now.
If there was more energy production from wind then it would be cheaper right? So while it may be more expensive in the short term, in the long term it will be less expensive and, importantly, cleaner.
Well Harry we agreed on something. A small thing but it's a start.
My comment was about how these types of stories nearly always are used to praise alternative energy and purposely leave out pertinent information.
I am an environmentalist. I do it for pragmatism not religion. I have worked on wind energy projects and never worked for a coal or oil company so I have no horse in the race. I have personally reduced my own energy consumption by 50% over the last 5 years.
There is no reason to whitewash wind and solar and demonize coal and oil. It is important to note that wind and solar power need coal or other sources of power when the wind is not blowing or the sun is not shining. There is a happy medium.
And Harry there is no choice BETWEEN money and the environment. The choice is BOTH. The economy can't pay an unlimited price for energy from any source. Alternative energy has to survive in the economy to be truly viable.
We completely agree. I was just trying to suggest that an investment now will pay off in the long run.