Harness the wind in Heart Mountain area?

Posted 12/11/08

“We're just testing the wind speed,” said Heart Mountain Irrigation manager Dan Laursen. “Maybe for us, and maybe for the farmers.”

If it is practical to harness the wind, Heart Mountain could use it, and/or local …

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Harness the wind in Heart Mountain area?

Posted

In November, an anemometer was erected in the Heart Mountain Irrigation District's territory to determine the feasibility of tapping into electrical power generated by the wind.It is a 50-meter anemometer tower a few miles north of Kamm's Corner on Lane 11. The device will measure wind speed and direction for the next year.

“We're just testing the wind speed,” said Heart Mountain Irrigation manager Dan Laursen. “Maybe for us, and maybe for the farmers.”

If it is practical to harness the wind, Heart Mountain could use it, and/or local landowners could form a cooperative, Laursen said.

Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the State Energy Program administered by the Wyoming Business Council installed the instrument.

The program has 11 50-meter tower/anemometers, one-20 meter tower/anemometer and two-30 meter tower/anemometers available, said Tom Fuller, State Energy Program manager.

Usually, the 50-meter towers are erected with commercial use in mind — selling the power, Fuller said.

“The real intent behind the program is to empower the landowner,” Fuller said.

If the landowner is aware of the number of watts he or she can expect, they will have greater bargaining power with potential wind-electric developers, Fuller said.

Wind is similar to Wyoming's other natural resources. A developer could pay fees for wind turbines to the property owner. Or the individual could receive royalties, Fuller said.

“Just like an oil well,” Fuller said.

The total cost to the Business Council to erect a 50-meter tower/anemometer is $20,000 to $25,000. That includes monthly, quarterly and a final report on the wind's speed and direction, Fuller said.

However, the lessee pays $4,700, and the council pays the rest, Fuller said.

The U.S. Department of Energy funds the program.

Right now Wyoming has a generating capacity of 458 megawatts at any given moment.

“We could actually be several thousand megawatts in a couple of years,” Fuller said.

One megawatt hour is enough to keep two to three homes in electrical power for one month, Fuller said.

Currently there are wind farms in the outskirts of Arlington, Evanston and Cheyenne.

Most of Wyoming's wind power will be exported south to Utah, Colorado and California, Fuller said.

Laramie County Community College has a wind-technician program, and Casper College is developing one, he added.

“They are good technician positions,” Fuller said.

The southeast part of the state is the best wind resource. The Big Horn Basin is not the best, but Fuller said ridge lines or the mouths of canyons might have wind-power potential.

Some days seem windier than others, and people in Cody experiencing wind blasting out of the canyon west of town might believe they have the corner on the Park County wind market. Time will tell if Lane 11 wind is stout enough to turn wind turbines.

“The only way you can find out is to install an anemometer and let it run,” Fuller said.

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