Kirkwood wind turbine would offset energy cost, aid training

Kirkwood Community College is looking to erect a 2.5-megawatt wind turbine on campus that would slash its annual $1.2 million electric bill by 35 percent and improve training for wind energy technicians.

The U.S. Department of Energy is accepting public comment through Nov. 15 in connection with the awarding of a $1,050,000 grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Kirkwood would receive the grant through the Iowa Office of Energy Independence.

The proposed wind turbine, which would be more than 400 feet high, would be located on the northwest side of the campus near an Alliant Energy substation.

The National Environmental Policy Act requires the Department of Energy to prepare an environmental impact study for such a project. The study will identify any potential adverse effects and evaluate viable alternatives.

Tom Kaldenberg, Kirkwood executive director of facilities, said the total cost of the wind turbine will be between $5 million and $6 million. Kaldenberg said the college is investigating additional grants as well as interest-free bonds and loans to cover the remaining cost of the project.

“We are planning to have a public meeting in December with our neighbors to explain what would be involved,” Kaldenberg said. “To the northeast of the campus is Kirkwood Estates, which is a manufactured home community. That would be the closest area of family-type housing.

“The Kirkwood Courts area is located to the north and northwest. That's all student housing.

“Our investigation has shown that it will have very little impact in terms of shadows or noise on those living near our campus.”

Kaldenberg said if the environmental assessment goes as planned, final design will be completed and bids will be sought in the spring of 2011. Construction would begin next fall and the wind turbine would begin generating electricity in early 2012.

“We're looking at a huge cut in our utility bills and that will offset the payments we have to make  in the first few years on the interest-free loans,” Kaldenberg said. “After about 10 years when everything is paid off , we should see a nice tidy payback on our investment.”

Kaldenberg said the wind turbine would be connected to Alliant Energy's power grid. The utility would receive power from the turbine and reduce the college's electric bill by that amount.

Kaldenberg said the wind turbine also will enhance the training of students studying to be wind turbine technicians.

“If they are uncomfortable climbing a ladder and working in a wind turbine more than 400 feet above the ground, they probably should look at another career,” he said.