"Wind
energy works and makes environmental sense--more so today than ever
before," writes Paul Gipe in his newly published Second Edition of Wind Energy Basics. "Paul Gipe is an
independent, opinionated voice on wind energy, cutting right to the
core on almost any wind energy topic. He analyzes the issues with
uncompromising standards." -Lisa Daniels,
Executive Director,
Windustry
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Windustry E-Newsletter
August 2009
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Municipal Wind Power in Minnesota
The city of Chaska, Minnesota, will soon have an 80-foot-tall wind
turbine generating clean, renewable electricity for local residents and
businesses. The Pioneer Ridge Wind Turbine is just one of the eleven
turbines that will be installed through the Hometown WindPower program
created by the Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (MMPA).
The Hometown WindPower program began in 2006, when MMPA began an
ambitious program to locate wind turbines for their 11 member
communities across the state of Minnesota. Now, five of the
member communities, Chaska, Anoka, Buffalo, North Saint Paul, and
Shakopee, have entered the planning stage for their wind power projects
this year.
Hometown WindPower is a prime example of how Community Wind is being
used in small communities to help keep energy costs stable by creating
a long-term fixed price for the power, providing a hedge against rising
fuel costs, such as coal and natural gas.
Other Minnesota municipalities are using wind power for these benefits
as well. Willmar Municipal Utilities recently completed construction of
two wind turbines that will be used to power about 3 percent of the city's
electric needs. Moorhead Public Service was a pioneer in 1999 erecting a .75-MW
wind turbine, followed by a second turbine in 2001, with their
Capture the Wind program voluntarily supported by residential and business customers.
Read the full story on Municipal Wind Power in Minnesota.
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Want
to Work in the Wind Industry?
Visit the Sustainability Stage in The Eco Experience
Have you considered getting a job in
the wind industry or want to know what training options are available?
These topics and more will be discussed during presentations on the
Sustainability Stage in The Eco Experience, every day of the Minnesota State
Fair, August 27 - September 7, 2009.
Two sessions hosted by Windustry on the Sustainability Stage will focus on careers in wind:
Friday, Sept. 4 at 6 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 7 at 1 p.m.
Talk with Windustry staff and
experts to learn about the exciting opportunities available in the wind
industry. You'll also be introduced to resources you can use to investigate training programs and career opportunities. Alden
Zietz, director of the Wind Energy and Technology program at Iowa Lakes
Community College, will share his experiences in the
wind energy industry. Zietz will discuss what kind of training is
needed for various wind turbine technician roles and what other career
opportunities are out there. A 20-minute question-and-answer session
will follow.
Other demonstrations and shows on the Sustainability Stage will explore:
Local food - Eating local on a budget, finding farmers in your area, kid-friendly cooking demonstrations, seasonal recipes;
Home gardening - Constructing rain barrels, using rain gardens, low-input lawn grasses, composting;
Home energy - Differences among efficient light bulbs, tips from certified energy auditors, evaluating "eco-friendly" claims on products;
Solar power - Learn the basics in Solar 101, harnessing solar power on a budget, solar thermal heating;
Recreation - Sustainable hunting and angling options;
Transportation - Choosing a greener car, commuting to work by bike, bike-friendly vacations in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Several
presentations aim to teach kids about the environment in exciting ways:
The Toonies Enviro-Show '09; Sing Along with your Compost Pile; Clancy,
the Mercury Detecting Dog; and Sewerman: The disgusting world of storm
sewers.
See a full schedule of Sustainability Stage Events
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Windustry Partners with Minnesota Wind Energy Companies for The Eco Experience
Expanding the wind industry in our state will create thousands of new
jobs, increase our energy independence, and "revive the economic base of many Minnesota
communities," according to Minnesota
2020's recent Winds of Progress
report. Minnesota's homegrown businesses and
community organizations are leading the way in generating this economic and
environmental vitality.
Windustry is fortunate to partner with many
wind energy companies working in Minnesota to present the Wind Energy
Center in The Eco Experience
at the
Minnesota State Fair,
a project coordinated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Windustry thanks our generous Partners for helping us present this
museum-quality, interactive educational exhibit that will expose
thousands of State Fair visitors to the promises of wind energy.
Our Partners include: Carstensen Contracting Inc.; Fagen
Inc.; Suzlon Wind Energy Corporation; Blattner Energy; Gamesa Energy USA; National Wind LLC; Juhl Wind Inc.; Westwood
Professional Services; Consulting Engineers Group; Faegre & Benson;
Fryberger, Buchanan, Smith & Frederick, PA; 3M; Jeffrey C. Paulson &
Associates Ltd.; KidWind; HDR, Inc; OwnEnergy; Southwest Windpower Inc.; Bergey Wind
Power Company; Endurance Wind Power; and Eco Solutions LLC.
Read more about the Wind Energy Center.
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Windspiration
The Wind Cries
Mary
Was
it really 42 years ago that this band released "The Wind Cries
Mary"? How many of you Windustry fans were alive and listening in 1967?
Other artists who have covered this song include Miles Davis (Filles de Kilimanjaro), Pat Boone (In a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy) and Cassandra Wilson (Crossing Jordan).
Here are the opening lyrics of the song:
After all the jacks
are in their boxes,
and the clowns have all gone to bed,
you can hear happiness staggering
on down the street,
footprints dress in red.
And the wind whispers Mary.
A broom is drearily sweeping
up the broken pieces of yesterday's life.
Somewhere a Queen is weeping,
somewhere a King has no wife.
Who is the band and who was the writer of the song?
Find out at Windspiration
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