Blowing in the Wind by Joe Presont Wolf Ridge Director of Buildings Wolf Ridge Almanac Winter 2003

When I entered the Wolf Ridge maintenance department in 1998, I brought with me varying experiences and maybe some preconceived ideals - mostly from the construction trades - that would assist me in my job duties. I also brought a willingness to learn. I believe that with an open mind anything is possible. I didn’t take long to realize there were many more facets to my new job than I had imagined – custodial, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, parts, materials, inventories, budgets, personalities, agendas, programs, etc. This job was more than fixing broken things; it was also about preventive maintenance and upkeep. And most importantly I needed to do my job within the realm of Wolf Ridge’s principle and values set forth by our mission statement. I was learning.

In the spring of 2000 the Pichotta Science Center opened. In the conception of this building was an opportunity to practice what we preach, to lessen our impact on the environment. A renewable energy system consisting of wind and solar electricity was incorporated into the traditional electric system to power the building. Overseeing many aspects of this renewable energy system is yet another part of my job.

Since installing the wind and solar power we have been steadily fine-tuning our new alternative electric system. The wind generator was a major bug. After a series of problems with the generator and its components, we decided to replace it with newer, more effective technology.

Discussion for new wind power began in March 2002 and covered a wide spectrum. Could we install one huge wind generator and power all of Wolf Ridge? Or maybe one on every hilltop and power all of Finland and Little Marais? Would we want to go into business with the electric company? How much would it cost? What would be the payback? What would be the impact on birds? What about the noise? We began a process of evaluating how Wolf Ridge would attend to this in terms of our mission statement and how we interact with the world as an environmental learning center.

Research and input came from a variety of sources including Peter Harris, Peter Smerud, Gary Deason and myself. The Wolf Ridge board helped steer us toward our current wind system. Contributions from Michael, Gloria, and Andrea Plautz, Boldt Constructions and North Shore Mining put the ball in motion. A 7.5 kilowatt Bergey Wind Turbine is now part of the Science Center landscape.

The new wind generator stands 90 feet tall, 10 feet higher than its predecessor. It is mounted on a freestanding monopole tower. This tower suits our interests. Because of its design, there is no need for guy wires. (Guy wires and sometimes blades, are often deadly to migrating birds). It is considerably quieter than our previous one. And once it’s painted this summer, visual impact will be reduced.

Our original wind generator combined with solar panels produced a little less than one eighth the electric needs of the science center - about enough power for two classrooms. Co-op Light and Power (our local electric utility) supplied the rest of the power for the building. The new wind generator along with the same solar panels produces almost four times the power of our original system. It supplies power for the hallway and outside lights of the science center plus all electric needs for classrooms, store, offices and multi-purpose room. When electric demand is small, we produce more power than we can use. Co-op Light and Power credits our electric bill at the current rate per kilowatt hour. With the savings on our electric bill, this machine will pay for itself in 11-12 years.

I’m not certain how much land is used for coal powered electricity (including mines and the plants themselves), or how many spent nuclear fuel rods will then be shipped across the country to some mountain to equal that amount of energy produced by our wind and solar system. I do know we will purchase approximately four hundred and forty thousand kilowatts less (that is the same as fifty100-watt light bulbs left on day and night for eleven years). Imagine if we turned these fifty light bulbs off during the day! We would cut the impact on the land in half!

Our renewable resource system is about more than kilowatts obtained from renewable energy. It is about coming together from many different corners of our community to see this new wind machine become a reality. It is about our relationship with each other and the world around us. We are responsible for the upkeep of our environment. Modeling and teaching sustainability and conservation are behaviors that are part of my job as a maintenance man and the job of all of us at Wolf Ridge. With open minds, we are all still learning.

Joe Preston has lived off the grid, using alternative energy for the past 10 years. He enjoys camping and fishing, as well as a good game of cribbage.