[interesting result of wheeling - from the egroups list - Will]
----- forwarded message -----
Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2000 09:11:07 -0400
From: "Tom Gray" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
CALIFORNIA ELECTRICITY CRISIS SPURS
SALES OF HOME WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS
___________________________________________
California consumer interest in home wind energy generators is
surging, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) said September 7.
The increase in consumer interest is the result of gyrating
electricity prices and chronic power outages in the state's restructured
electricity market. Some changes in regulations are needed for sales to
reach their full potential, according to AWEA.
"We have seen sales in California double over the last four
months," said Michael Bergey, president of Bergey Windpower, a Norman,
Okla.-based company that manufactures the popular 10-kW Bergey Excel wind
turbine. "This increase in business is directly attributable to the 'rate
shock' experienced by customers," Bergey added.
"Our office is overwhelmed with information requests," said Andy
Kruse, vice-president of Southwest Windpower, which sells small turbines
ranging from 300 W to 4.5 kW in output. "When California deregulated its
electricity markets, we all wondered which way rates would go, and what
that would do for sales. It's clear now that with rates going up as they
have, small wind systems make more economic sense than ever before."
Customer interest has been amplified by the Internet. As electric
customers look for solutions to their energy woes on the Web and shop
around for electricity providers, they often discover a wind energy
company's site. "A lot of our recent sales are to people who have never
heard of our products before and found our site through the Internet,"
Bergey said.
California offers a rebate of up to 50% on wind energy systems to
customers of Pacific Gas and Electric, San Diego Gas & Electric, Southern
California Edison, and Bear Valley Electric Company. Purchasers of a
qualifying wind system must apply to the California Energy Commission, and
rebates are issued on a first-come, first-served basis. "This rebate,
which is funded by a public benefit charge and encourages customers to
invest in wind energy systems, is proving to be a wise investment for
California," said AWEA executive director Randall Swisher. "Each home or
small business running on wind energy helps reduce overall electricity
demand and the need for new power plants and transmission lines."
Customers find that installing a small wind energy system is not
always easy, however. Los Angeles County currently has an ordinance
limiting wind turbine towers to 30 feet in height, a limit that often
prevents a wind turbine from functioning effectively. Just as solar panels
need access to sunlight, wind turbines need access to wind blowing without
turbulence caused by nearby trees and buildings. "Getting a variance is a
costly process which discourages many potential customers in L.A. County,"
said Debby Greer, of Specialized Turbine Services, a wind energy service
company and dealer based in Tehachapi. "It's a shame, because a wind
energy system can generate much more electricity than solar, so it's an
attractive system if your goal is to minimize use of electricity from the
grid."
In order to tap the potential market for small wind systems and
help ease the load on local utility lines, AWEA recommends that county
ordinances be tailored to accommodate wind energy systems. AWEA also
recommends that the state's rebate on wind energy systems be better
publicized, expanded to cover systems up to 50 kW, and extended to all
California residents. "Such state and local incentives provide a clear
recognition of the public benefits that wind energy provides to the
community," said Swisher.
Consumer contacts:
--California Energy Commission rebate program: (916) 653-2834 or (916) 654-4721
--Bergey Windpower: www.bergey.com
--Southwest Windpower: www.windenergy.com
--For a full listing of small wind turbine manufacturers, see
http://www.awea.org/directory/wtgmfgr.html on AWEA's Web site.
