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Inaugural “Wind for Schools” Project Groundbreaking Held

FORESTBURG, SD -- “This is a day that will go down in history,” claimed Linda Whitney, Sanborn Central superintendent. “I do believe that wind energy is the future.”

The first “Wind for Schools” project in South Dakota was unveiled at Sanborn Central School in Forestburg, SD on Monday, Sept. 22, 2008. A groundbreaking ceremony included key players in the development of this project which included representatives from Sanborn Central School District, Central Electric Cooperative and East River Electric Power Cooperative.

The “Wind for Schools” project goals are to engage rural schoolteachers and students in wind energy, to educate college students in wind energy applications and to introduce wind energy to rural communities to initiate discussion of wind energy benefits and challenges.

Though the size of the 1.8kW turbine won’t produce much electricity, the authentic instructional benefits are immense.  Science faculty will utilize the turbine as a teaching aid for energy-related educational curricula as well as a source activity such as a science fair. The turbine will be located on school grounds at the front of the building.

Tracy Moody, Sanborn Central science instructor, is excited about what the turbine will offer students. “It's something that students can use everyday in the classroom. We’ll have access on the Internet, and parents can come in and look at what our turbine is doing.”

Student Body President Corey Weeden expressed the common feeling among students at the school and the opportunities wind generation offers. “Our generation, more than any other, needs to think of this for the future and the resources that will be available. South Dakota has plenty of wind and South Dakotans have always been proud to make the most of what we have.”

East River Electric Power Cooperative Assistant General Manager Scott Parsley reiterated the importance of wind as a viable energy source. “We are looking at a 30% growth in demand over the next 20 years in the United States. In order to meet that growth were going to have to use all kinds of resources and wind is going to play an important role. South Dakota is going to be right in the middle of this development because we are one of the best wind states.”

The project’s collaborative effort, which also includes the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and South Dakota State University, provides electric cooperatives with an opportunity to give back to its members. “Commitment to community is one of the seven cooperative principles so it is really important for a Cooperative to be involved in a project such as this,” admitted Loren Noess, Central Electric Cooperative general manager.

“I feel very honored that Sanborn Central will have the first turbine up, and that is due in great part to Central Electric’s Ken Schlimgen and East River’s Roger Wubbena. They did all the legwork in getting a contractor (Green Energy Products-Springfield, MN) for us,” Whitney said.

Nationally, the “Wind for Schools” project was launched in 2005 by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). In South Dakota, the PUC sent applications to school districts, from which 30 met the established criteria. From this group, NREL chose eight schools for the program.