Renewable Energy Solutions Community Meetings

Wind Energy Meeting - April 9, 2009

Speakers and Topics

• Pat Smith from Earthtronics: Growth of states promoting and developing alternative energy programs, government mandates regarding net metering, cost efficiency of local power sources.
• Mayor Henry Roesler: Ordinance compliance and restrictions of "wind-catching" devices. (Our thanks to the Mayor for making cookies for the meeting).
• Michael Ford from Cascade: Conducting "wind analysis" before beginning wind generator projects, appeal to lifestyle changes for more efficient energy practices and equipment, recommended wind measuring devices (anemometers) to analyze localized wind speed and consistency.
• Paul Feorene of Two Willows Farm in Montague: Presented obstacles and problems that he had to overcome in constructing the first significant wind generator in West Michigan that connected to the energy grid.

Summary

More than 150 people attended the first community gathering to discuss sustainable wind and solar energy. The meeting, hosted by White Lake Congregational Church featured four imported specialists, including Earthtronics/windtronics out of Muskegon, Cascade Engineering, out of Grand Rapids, and Hybrid Homes, LLC out of Norton Shores. The White Lake Area Mayor Henry Roesler also spoke on ordinance issues. Tax credit information as well as possible employment opportunities and refreshments were also made available.

Pat Smith from Earthtronics informed the group that ten years ago only two states had an interest in alternative and now within the last year 10 additional states have been added to that count, showing the rapid growth of interest. He added that the government this year is making power companies accept net- metering which is the situation allows owners of any power generator, including residential, to be paid whatever price they buy it for off the grid.

Evidently 67 percent of generated power is lost through grid transmission which both Smith and Michael Ford of Cascade Engineering say makes it a good idea to conserve energy by unplugging unnecessary electronic equipment in the home (those appliances that feel continuously warm to the touch).

Ford saw the response to the energy challenge as two pronged: outside and inside the home; outside, home-owners need to make sure of the speed and consistency of wind before having a wind generator installed and inside, homeowners need to unplug appliances that draw current as mentioned above.

Mayor Roessler reminded listeners that any wind catching structure erected by residents has to comply with city ordinance restrictions. Then he added that they are currently negotiable (and await input by qualified townspeople).

Paul Feorene, of Two Willows Farm had everyone’s attention as he spoke about the 120 foot wind turbine which functions to save him money on his electric bill. He cautioned that homeowners need to do their homework before appearing before the zoning board, using information about how much wind they actually have consistently (measured by an anenometer); homeowners need to select which generator is best suited to their needs. They also need a plan for maintainance cost and insurance and to choose and name their Installer, having considered reference for the latter.

Feorene assured us that though generators usually work at 6 miles per hour inland on the average, on the lake shore the National Renewable Energy Laboratory calculates that wind speed is 17 to 19.7.

For the next public WINDS forum, plans are being made to consider solar panel energy. These meetings are a place for citizens to learn from specialists in the field and to share their knowledge and experience with renewable energy. The WINDS website will carry information about the next forum. In the meantime interested parties could contact David Roodvoets at dlrconsul@charter.net .

*Read the news coverage of the meeting by the White Lake Beacon with video.