 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Environment | |
|
Wellspring Renewable Energy What is the Wellspring renewable wind energy program all about? What is the Wellspring renewable wind energy program all about? The Wellspring renewable wind energy program is a voluntary program that offers wind-generated electricity to co-op members. Electricity provided by wind generation is a coordinated effort between Great River Energy and its 28 distribution cooperatives. How will wind power be produced? Wind power will be produced using utility scale wind turbines. The number of turbines built will be determined by the number of customers who choose to subscribe for the service. The higher the level of Wellspring subscriptions the larger the new wind farm. Currently, wind for the Wellspring program comes from the Chandler Hills Wind Farm (nine 660-KW wind turbines with a combined nameplate capacity of nearly 6 MW) and 6-MW wind farm located near Dodge Center, Minnesota. In addition to the wind energy for the Wellspring program, Great River Energy purchases energy from a number of other wind farms. How do customers participate? First, to participate in the program, you must be a customer of one of Great River Energy’s 28 member cooperatives. For more information about signing up for Wellspring wind energy, contact your electric cooperative. Interested customers are asked to make a minimum one-year commitment to buy electricity from the Wellspring renewable wind energy program for a slight added cost. Is the wind power supplied directly to my home? No. The electricity generated by the wind turbines is fed into the state’s electric system, called the grid. It is like pouring a pitcher of water into a pond. You can’t get the water from the pitcher back out of the pond. The same holds true for recapturing wind-generated electricity from the grid. It is there, available to use, but to deliver the exact electron generated by the wind turbine is not possible. The wind power that you purchase will replace electricity that would have been generated by conventional fossil fuels. Will customers still receive traditional sources of power? Yes. Customers won’t be able to distinguish whether the electrons flowing into their homes were generated by wind power or not. But customers can be assured their commitment to Wellspring renewable wind energy will result in the construction of new wind generators that will help lessen our reliance on fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Will power in customers’ homes be dependent upon the wind blowing? No. Customers’ power will continue as usual. Will customers get all of their electrical energy from the Wellspring renewable wind energy program? Customers can decide how much wind energy they want to buy (in 100 kWh blocks). Customers can purchase an amount up to their normal monthly consumption. For example: if their normal usage is 800 kWhs/month they can purchase up to eight blocks. Will wind power cost more? Yes. Although this project is the most cost-effective “Green Resource” option we have identified, it is still slightly more expensive than conventional electrical energy generating options. The extra cost of wind power will be passed directly through to the consumer. The typical household uses 800 kWhs/month of energy per month. When will I be billed for the Wellspring blocks that I purchase? Wellspring customers will be billed on a monthly basis. If Wellspring demand exceeds supply, customers won’t be billed until new turbines come on line. How does this project affect people who do not subscribe? This project has no impact on customers who do not want to participate. Many customers may be satisfied knowing their power is produced by efficient conventional power plants. This project is for customers who want to utilize renewable energy resources, and are willing to pay the extra costs associated with it. What do the wind turbines look like? The towers are more than 200 feet tall with a rotor and generator mounted at the top. The rotor has a diameter of 150-230 feet. Are turbines dangerous to birds? There is a risk if a bird flies into the spinning turbine. However, the new large turbine blades rotate at a relatively slow speed and have a much lower risk to birds than earlier turbine designs. In addition, the Buffalo Ridge area is not near a major bird flyway, further reducing the potential for avian mortality. A customer moving within the cooperative service territory can maintain their commitment to Wellspring renewable wind energy by simply being transferred to their new address. Why is this program being offered? Cooperative customers have indicated a preference for renewable energy options. Renewable energy is a product that customers want and we are in the business of providing what customers want. | ||
|
|