COLORADO
Anemometer Loan Program The Colorado
Governor's Office of Energy Management and Conservation (OEMC) has chosen
Sustainable Settings’ whole systems learning center at Thompson Creek Ranch in
Pitkin County to receive an anemometer through its Anemometer Loan Program.
This program works through a partnership with matching funds from U.S.
Department of Energy’s Wind Powering America Program. Anemometers are
wind-measuring devices that are mounted atop towers. OEMC purchased seven
20-meter anemometer towers and anemometers, to be installed in Colorado, to
collect site-specific wind data. The tower and anemometer were raised at
Sustainable Settings in August. The goal of OEMC's anemometer loan program is to capture the data collected
by the anemometers, such as the direction, force and speed of wind. The data
collected from the anemometer will be interpreted and analyzed by a third-party
source working with OEMC. The anemometers will generally collect data for
a period of one year. After the site’s wind data has been collected, the
anemometers will be moved to other sites. The data collected will be available
to the public. “OEMC initiated this program due to the tremendous interest in generating
wind energy,” said Rick Grice, OEMC Executive Director. “Our goal is
to assist communities, landowners, and other stakeholders in making informed
decisions on a site’s wind energy resources. The data collected from the
anemometers is invaluable in this process.” The anemometers were first installed in 2003 to locations in Lamar,
Julesburg, Aurora, Montrose, Leadville; Walden, and Meeker. Many of the original
sites have completed their data collection and the anemometers have been removed
and installed in new locations such as Carbondale, Sedgwick, Deer Trail and
Paonia. Site selections are based on existing statewide wind mapping information as
well as the participant’s stated purpose for wind energy utilization.
Additionally, selections were based on the awareness of current electric
supplier's net metering and interconnection policies, distance to transmission
lines, transmission capacity availability, and likely funding for the wind
project. Sustainable Settings has been given approval in their master plan by Pitkin
County’s Board of County Commissioners to install a 110 foot tower and wind
generator. This year-long study will provide important data in
understanding what energy potential there is at Sustainable Settings’ ranch
site. This study will also lead to the raising of the wind generating tower
which is projected to be a major contributor to Sustainable Settings’ goals of
creating a net-energy producing development as laid out in the organization’s
Comprehensive Energy Plan. “Our ranch is strategically located at the confluence of Thompson Creek and
The Crystal River. From our first year of observation on site we think that
these two drainages offer a wind microclimate that might prove beneficial for
wind power generation,” said Brook Le Van, Sustainable Settings director Sustainable Settings’ is developing a Whole Systems
Learning Center to research, demonstrate and conduct educational activities in
green development, sustainable agriculture and land stewardship. The ranch
is home to protected open space and a critical wildlife corridor, and is host to
sustainably managed livestock, organic orchards and production gardens. Colorado Governor’s Office of Energy Management and
Conservation Program Contact Information Click
here for information on Anemometer Loan programs in other states.
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
For more information, click here
for Sustainable Settings’ web site or you can contact them by e-mail
or call (970) 963-6107.
To learn more about the anemometer loan program, contact OEMC’s Olga Erlich at
(303) 894-2383 x1218 or by e-mail.
For information on DOE’s Wind Powering America Program, click
here.
Source: Colorado Governor's Office of Energy Management and Conservation
Links to State Anemometer Loan
Programs