[Winona Online Democracy]
Just a thought. Rather than litter our roadsides with white turbine towers
AND cell towers why not look at combining the two technologies on the same
tower. I have read where some communities require the parties interested in
putting up a tower to use aesthetically pleasing designs. Look at our
bluffs and see the towering sky litter. I am certainly not a tree hugger
but if there is a better way to do something and preserve our beautiful
countryside--why not...We have the opportunity to do it right the first
time. See the attached site.
http://www.utilitycamo.com/sites.html
Greg Olson
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dwayne & Denine Voegeli" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, August 08, 2005 7:30 PM
Subject: [Winona] Possible Wind Turbine & Dept. of Commerce $200,000 Grant
[Winona Online Democracy]
Hello Keith,
Thank you for asking about the large wind turbine project the County Board
will be discussing at tomorrow's meeting.
Again, the project is designed to apply for one of two competitive
$200,000
grants the Minnesota Department of Commerce will be awarding this Fall.
In case people missed last Friday's Winona Daily News, here is a story
about the County's EDA Commitee vote on the issue.
http://winonadailynews.com/articles/2005/08/05/news/00lead.txt
Below is the briefing the County Commissioners were sent as an addition to
their agenda packets.
Please let me know if you or anyone else has any other questions or
feedback.
Thank you,
Dwayne Voegeli
August 8, 2005
-----
Briefing for County Board Commissioners
August 8, 2005
-----
Here are the quick basics behind the large wind turbine that is being
discussed:
A. Cost: Approximately $2.1 million for one turbine
B. Payback Period: Approximately 10-11 years *
C. Life of Turbine: Approximately 20 years
D. Size: 1.65 megawatts, enough to power 500 homes
E. Rate of Return: Nearly 10% over 20 years
F. Grant Release Date: August 2, 2005
G. Grant Application Date: October 6, 2005 (less than two months from
now)
* Blake Pickart, the County's Finance Director, was given the cash flow
sheets for this proposal almost two weeks ago. He has been asked to go
over the numbers to make sure they are accurate and valid. He will be
present at tommorrow's meeting to answer questions.
---
Possible partners to work with on this project to share costs and to
increase partnership potentials:
1. Winona State University
2. Saint Mary's University
3. Technical College
4. 3 School Districts: Winona, St. Charles, and Lewiston
5. Private Schools
6. Possible Townships
7. Possible Cities
---
Some beginning questions and answers:
Question # 1: Why should the Winona County be involved with a project
like
this?
Reply:
A. It is a good investment and it will save taxpayers money over the long
run.
B. It will spur private investors to develop more projects like this.
C. It will help the farmers who allow the turbines on their land with
additional income through land lease payments.
D. By helping farmers and rural land owners, wind turbines will help keep
the countryside rural and it aligns with the County's Comp Land Use Plan.
E. It places us on the cutting edge of a new technology in our part of
the
state. It will come one day, the question is, "when will Winona County
residents benefit from the cost savings and clean energy source?"
F. It may help create good paying jobs in our area.
G. It will help keep all the money we spend on energy in our area and it
will decrease our dependancy on foreign oil.
H. It is the environmentally responsible thing to do.
---
Question # 2: Isn't this best left for the private sector to do?
A. Usually the private sector leads and government follows but sometimes
government leads and the private sector follows.
(i.e. Did you know that both IBM and ATT had a chance to develop the
internet? They both passed on the idea and it was left for government to
develop. There are many other examples like that.)
B. This grant comes from the Minnesota State Department of Commerce. It
is
designed specifically for local governments, not the private sector. The
Dept. of Commerce wants these projects to be seed projects that will spur
more private sector investments and projects like this.
C. This project is not simply about catching a really big fish ($200,000
grant), it's about learning how to fish. It's about learning how to help
and encourage others to do more projects like this.
D. I and others have been working on this for over 2 years. It would be
quicker and easier if someone from the private sector would begin a
project
like this but it simply hasn't happened yet.
---
Question # 3: Has this been done before?
Reply: Yes.
This same kind of grant was done two years ago. Two wind turbines were
built and are now up and running, one at Carleton College in Northfield
and
one at the University of Minnesota - Morris. This grant produces concrete
results and it's a real thing, it's not just a nice sounding idea.
---
Question # 4: Is there insurance for things like this?
Reply: Yes.
Even though it's new to us in Winona County, billions are invested in
large
wind turbines across the country and there is a whole insurance industry
built around these machines.
---
Question # 5: What about maintenance costs and problems?
Reply: There's always a chance there might be problems.
Any new power source may have potential problems. But the costs for the
repairs are built into the cash flow sheet for the project. There are
also
people who work on machines like this.
---
Question # 6: What about noise problems and other concerns from possible
neighbors?
Reply: There may be possible concerns.
There are many myths about wind turbines which a little bit of information
or a tour to existing wind turbines would quickly take care of.
Many myths come from the front people and groups who represent the coal
and
other industries who benefit from the status quo and who do not want to
rock the boat with new technologies.
For example, when it comes to noise, if you ever have a chance to visit
one
of the big turbines, you wouldn't believe how quiet they are.
It will be important to site any possible project with neighbor's concerns
in mind. There might be concerns but there are ways to solve those
problems.
------------
Dwayne Voegeli
Winona County Commissioner
(507) 453-9012
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
359 Pleasant Hill Dr.
Winona, MN 55987
------------
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