Washington State University Installs Mini Wind Farm
Washington State University has recently installed a mini wind farm on its Vancouver campus, reported The Oregonian in late February. The five wind turbines, which generate enough energy to power a house, are a key component in the school’s 2-year-old renewable energy program.
The renewable energy program is an interdisciplinary track of the mechanical engineering major in the School of Engineering and Computer Science, which allows students to study renewable energy technology and its applications, with an emphasis on wind and solar devices.
The turbines are managed by Stephen Solovitz, an associate professor in the medical engineering program, who explained that the main function of the wind farm is to provide students a hands-on opportunity to design, build and test more efficient turbine blades. They will research, design, and test improvements for maximizing turbine efficiency, with the goal of building more efficient turbine blades than those installed on these particular turbines by the manufacturer.
The renewable energy program at Washington State University currently has 36 students, with more on a waiting list. Since the program’s inception, more than 100 students have participated. The small-scale wind farm was made possible through a $250,000 private donation, with matching state money.
The Chanler Group is actively engaged in the review and analysis of incentive-based renewable energy programs to determine potential benefits to our clients. Global energy consumption continues to increase each year and, with this increase, the demand for safe, clean, and unlimited energy is on the rise. The Federal and State governments promote this interest through a variety of financially-beneficial incentives. Our understanding of these laws allows us to guide homeowners, businesses, and/or developers through the various ways to take advantage of these incentive-based benefits. With the appreciation that renewable energy laws and regulations are constantly changing, The Chanler Group is committed to investing in its understanding and practice of this area of law.