2008 Woodie Awards
Wind energy may blow to campus
Company in talks with ACU for farm
Tanner Anderson Page Designer
Issue date: 10/22/08 Section: News
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Juhl Wind, a company based in Woodson, Minn., focuses on community-based wind power and is in the early planning stages to develop a wind farm project at the Rhoden Field Laboratory, an ACU student farm near Albany. The agriculture and environmental science department uses this location for its applied curriculum.
"The addition of the Abilene Christian project brings our total announced project count to 20 as of today," said John Mitola, president of Juhl Wind, in a press release. "As we have stated before, we expect strong growth in the college and university market and we are actively working on other projects as well."
Jack Rich, Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, contacted the up-and-coming wind company to organize a feasibility project to determine if ACU could handle a potential wind project.
The focus of the feasibility study is to determine the project's size and cost, how many turbines can be used and how many megawatts of energy they will distribute. These factors also will affect the overall
cost of the project, and the amount of turbines and megawatts used will determine
if the project has the potential to continue. The study already has begun and will be concluded in the next six months.
Dr. Jim Cooke, professor of environmental science, said the potential project would bring many great outcomes for the campus.
The wind project could help conserve natural resources while simultaneously demonstrating Christian stewardship by preventing the use of low fossil fuels and natural resources. Energy prices also are on the rise; the past year ACU spent $2.5 million on energy expenses. The use of wind farm energy would help relinquish the stronghold grip the current economy has when it comes to using natural resources. Since the project would be local, all of the revenues saved would benefit the community, Cooke said. The project also would serve as an academic tool benefiting students who major in agriculture and environmental science.
"In my opinion, it has to be done, and it's the right thing to do," Cooke said. "The project has a very good chance of being successful. Best case scenario is 18 months from now we'll be generating wind energy."
Contact Anderson at jmcnetwork@acu.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
John C. Rich
posted 10/22/08 @ 4:11 PM CST
As always, ACU is at the forefront of great projects. This is a very timely and worthy endeavor.
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