Printed from http://www.genoa.org/articles/article/wind
on May 4, 2011 at 3:08am.

Genoa Charter Township Hall Wind Turbines and Solar Panels

Genoa Township Green Energy Project

The Township Manager has prepared the following information for residents interested in the recent green energy additions to the Township Hall property.

• Five Windspire® wind/solar hybrid turbines were installed in August of 2010 on a hill behind the Genoa Charter Township Hall located at 2911 Dorr Road. The system has a total rated capacity of 9.5 kW. The five wind turbines are rated for 1.2 kW each for a total of 6kW and the photovoltaic panels .7 kW each for a total of 3.5 kW. The system is expected to provide approximately 20% of the Township Hall's electrical needs.
• The Township was awarded an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Multi-Purpose Block Grant for $94,919 from the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth Bureau of Energy Systems. The funding source for the grant was the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Township's share of the project was $8,800 in personnel and contractual services.
• When the Township Hall is not in use and it is a very windy or sunny day the energy conversion system may generate more power than the Hall needs. In these instances power will be actually fed back to the electrical grid. A "net" meter has been installed that will spin backwards when this occurs in effect paying the Township for energy produced.
• The Windspire® wind energy conversion turbine is manufactured in Manistee Michigan with materials of domestic content www.windspireenergy.com. Installation was completed by Contractor's Building Supply, Inc.
• A residential installation typically costs between $9,000 and $12,000 not including tax credits.
• At an average wind speed of 12 mph (which is high for this part of the state) one turbine will produce 2000kWh of power which is 25% of the energy usage for an average home.
• At a 15 mile per hour wind speed the turbines will generate 6 decibels of noise above ambient 6 feet from the pedestal which is barely perceptible.
• The useful life for these systems is 20+ years.
• The turbines are 30 feet tall on top of a 20 foot tall pedestal.
• The rotors are made out of recycled aircraft grade extruded aluminum.