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“It’s simple: Wind is affordable,” says the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). Small wind turbines are creeping into suburbia, driving down electricity bills and fighting global warming. Your neighbors may complain – they take awhile to get used to. If you haven’t seen one, picture exposed fan blades mounted on a flagpole.
Payback, noise, and…well, bird killings have been loud arguments against bringing wind power to the residential streets. Regardless, manufacturing improvements and government backing have made these curious devices more mainstream.
Small Wind 101
A small wind turbine produces electricity from wind. Moving air rotates the turbine, generating independent, emissions-free energy. With just a few moving parts, they are simple and efficient, a smaller version of turbines found on commercial wind farms.
Most are installed in the backyard, with 35-140 feet of “monopole” looming over the rooftop like a buzzing streetlight. The energy comes from three, long blades, 2-15 feet in length. They are hard to miss.
Windy Economics
Small wind power is a small industry. However, the technology has been popular with rural residents, and those “living off the grid,” for years. From a residential perspective, small wind turbines are taking off in windier parts of the country. More wind, more power. The gusty Midwest is the fastest growing market.
However, economics drive real demand in the U.S. California and New Jersey are huge markets for small turbine manufacturers. Why? They both offer big government incentives and progressive utility plans.
States offering two-dollar-a-watt incentives are seeing the strongest market penetration. And, the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act increased the federal tax credit for purchasing small wind systems to 30%.
Government regulators and legislators are slowly jumping on board, encouraged by the wind market’s growth and potential. As of 2010, nine U.S. states have enacted policy to streamline the permit process for residential installation.
Is Wind Expensive?
The good news is – like other renewable energies – price points continue to drop as the industry matures. The ARRA provided seed money for small wind entrepreneurs. And, venture capital is bullish on renewable energy, investing heavily in 2010. America’s wind power industry jumped 15% in 2010, and manufacturers predict exponential growth throughout the decade. Small wind is almost a buyer’s market.
Last year, two-thirds of all small wind systems were manufactured in the U.S. Unlike other renewable energy sectors, the U.S. has taken the lead in small wind power. Systems, with enough power to energize an average home, range from $30,000-$50,000. However, the key is payback on your investment. How long will you be in your home? Permits, maintenance, and insurance, all become part of a complex, decision matrix. What is it worth to be energy independent?
So readers, what is your take on wind power? Is it worth the investment?
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