| Wind Energy Workshop held at Roane State Community College in Crossville, TN |
The energy and interest in wind energy was apparent on Wednesday July
22nd at Roane State Community College in Crossville, TN as 90
participants, nearly twice the amount as a workshop just 2 years ago,
came together to learn more about wind energy systems. The workshop
covered the decision process of selecting a wind turbine in harnessing
wind power for one’s home or business. The attendees heard
presentations on understanding local wind energy resource, potential
financial incentives, different types of commercially available turbine
technology, and how the region could play a significant role in helping
the Department of Energy reach their 20% wind energy by 2030 vision.
One
of the goals of the workshop was to connect the participants with the
people they will need to work with for financing. Speakers and topics
included:
Terry Ellis, from Tennessee ‘s Economic and
Community Development Energy Division, spoke about the state of
Tennessee’s clean energy technology grant, a grant program that will
finance 40% of the project cost (up to $75,000) for a qualifying
business.
Jimmy Allen, from the area USDA Rural Development
office, informed the audience of the Rural Energy for America Program
grant opportunity for rural businesses, which can cover up to 25% of
costs and also provide low interest financing and loan guarantees for
qualifying agricultural producers and rural businesses.
Katie
Stokes, with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and Tennessee Wind
Working Group, updated the audience on the new revisions to the Federal
Tax Credit for small wind energy systems, which is an uncapped 30% tax
credit applied to an individual or businesses’ federal tax income for
systems 100 kW and smaller in size.
Patty Hurley, of Volunteer
Energy Cooperative, informed the audience about the benefits of
participating in the TVA Generation Partners program, which will not
only purchase the electricity produced from a renewable energy system
at a rate of $0.03 for wind energy systems ($0.12 for solar) above the
retail price of electricity, but will also chip in $1,000 to help
reduce the upfront cost of the infrastructure required for
interconnecting a renewable energy system.
Additionally, Rick
Carson, of TVA, discussed tower and turbine options and Ronnie Trout,
of Morgan County Vocational School spoke about how he has integrated
the design and installation of a 3kW Kestrel turbine on a tower
constructed by students with assistance from a nearby business into the
classroom.
Following the conclusion of the formal meeting,
many participants chose the option of visiting the nearby Sportsman’s
Wildlife Foundation Lodge to see their two small wind turbines that are
currently in operation and the electrical equipment that connects the
energy to the lodge. The lodge itself is a renewable energy laboratory
of sorts as it is completely off the electrical grid and harnesses
energy from the wind, sun, and soon to be micro-hydro resources to
provide electricity and hot water for the many youth organizations that
visit the lodge for environmental and conservation education
programs.
The Tennessee Wind Working Group chose to return
to Crossville because of the interest received from the community, the
support given by community organizations such as the Learning Community
and Roane State Community College, and because the Upper Cumberland
area of Tennessee has many places where wind energy technology, small
and large, can play a role in how electricity is produced in the TVA
region.
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