Archive for July, 2010
Does it take a rocket scientist to repair an aging wind turbine?
July 17th, 2010 | 
Author: A father and son team in Texas have figured out how to fix a part in wind turbines that tends to wear out after years of use.
According to Sheryl Hall of dallasnews.com “One of those parts is an 18-inch-diameter device called a variable speed controller. A busted one can stop a 300-foot giant dead in its tracks.”
The father and son team run a company called Orbital Machine Works LLC in Lewisville, Texas. They are so good at what they do, parts are sent to them from as far away as Ireland. The manufacturer in Denmark can’t fix the part as fast as the Texas duo.
So does it actually take a rocket scientist?
According to the same article “Both are rocket scientists – literally – and considered experts in high-powered amateur rockets. They (and their 20-foot-tall creation, Aurora, Supreme Goddess of the Sky) appeared in a 2003 documentary still seen on the Discovery Channel and the Science Channel.”
Here’s then link to read the original article.
Enjoy
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Maine can see what windmill energy can do.
Maine is already considered the windmill capital of New England, but now Maine is considering whether not to add more windmills in their future. They are hoping to add 2 more wind turbine farms, which would generate 186 megawatts of power altogether. This amount of energy would power 70,000 average homes.
These projects were turned down last year because there was a lot of concern about building in sensitive wildlife areas and the cost of the development. The residents of Maine would really like to see the project happen, so the Land Use Regulation Commission will be revisiting the idea and looking at preliminary plans.
There is still opposition to the plans from groups that are worried about how the landscape will be changed and how the windmills will affect wildlife. They are working to find a solution that will make everyone happy.
Here at Windmills to Power Your Home we applaud Maine’s efforts to add more windmills to their grid.
Do you have enough wind to use windmill electric power?
Test the wind around your home to find out if windmill power is for you. This handy little tool is called a Handheld Windspeed Meter. The tool is not to expensive at around thirty six dollars. That isn’t much to find out if you can use a windmill to power your home.
Check the windspeed meter out.
Is windmill power legal?
This might seem like a strange question. What could possibly be illegal about a windmill?
Since the 1980 some laws have been enforced regarding height and noise, and many areas are concerned about what windmills and wind turbines will to the scenery. It is very important to check for these laws before you spend the money to install a windmill. These laws can differ widely in deferent states, counties towns, and even neighborhoods. Also don’t forget zoning laws. You might simply use a shorter windmill or a small roof mounted wind turbine. Shop around, some wind turbines are quieter than others.
One place to start your research is the companies that sell wind turbines them selves, and installers. They deal with these laws and restrictions all the time. Of course always double check yourself to ensure that you will not be fined of even have a lawsuit against you.
Federal And Local Regulations For Windmill Power
Several new instructions and guidelines as well as laws or local regulations have been enforced since the early 1980’s. Each state differs in laws and penalties for windmill power. Before you invest time and money in a windmill, find out these important facts.
Although wind turbines have gained a lot of acceptance in the United States, locally you might have ordinances that regulate free standing wind turbines like height or noise restrictions. But these ordinances aren’t extensive to the point of making it impossible to own a wind turbine. Some consumers read more into the regulations and guideline laws than they need to. Taken in the right perspective, a homeowner can have a wind turbine and still abide by these laws, in most cases.
Almost every state has restrictions, including a law that wind turbine fields cannot be built where birds are migrating. The state with the most conflict on building and raising windmills is California. There have been a few documented cases of lawsuits over windmills and their existence in different counties. Out of all the arguments made against wind turbines there is one point that is addressed by almost every state: how wind turbines affect the scenery. However, small wind turbines are being installed all over the United States without permits or fees to any government agencies.
Not many people actually build their own windmills anymore. There are so many companies and manufacturers on the market with many machines at reasonable prices that it is hard to justify the time and expense to build a wind turbine yourself. The companies also know most of the specs and guidelines to go by in your area, such as height of the tower, ordinances and installation the proper way. The consideration of this alternate energy resource is becoming even more popular as fuel prices increase. More windmills are expected to be sold or built in the future. Its not a “phase.”
As you can see, the United States is somewhat divided as far as laws and restrictions for small windmills. The biggest restriction consumers usually come up against are zoning laws. Therefore, it is essential for consumers to research their individual location. The Department of Environmental Protection probably knows more about general permits and environment statutes than any other single agency. They can also let you know about general requirements or conditions for windmill installation, as well as taxes that might be incurred.
It seems, as with every legitimate investment, there are rules and laws to abide by. They are designed for our protection as well as for the protection of the environment. However, just like any other law that might concern a consumer, that doesn’t mean we don’t buy anything, or consider the benefits. We simply follow the rules and guidelines. And save energy as well. The long term view of having a modern home wind turbine as an alternate source of energy is worth whatever hoops we have to jump through.