To the editor:
On Thursday, May 14 at 11 a.m., the University of Maine at Presque Isle will dedicate its new 600 kW wind turbine. Ceremonies will take place in the Campus Center followed by a symbolic ribbon cutting at the turbine site on the UMPI athletic fields. The formal beginning of electric generation will mark an end and a beginning for the campus. The May 14 ceremony will end four years of planning and preparation for the turbine project. It will mark the beginning of electric generation that we estimate will save the campus at least $100,000 yearly at present electric rates.
Planning began in 2005 as the campus continued to explore the use of renewable energy. The United States Department of Energy funded a 20-month study of the wind quality on the UMPI athletic fields. That study reported our wind was one category short of investment quality wind (such as is present at Mars Hill) but was attractive for generation for use of the electricity on campus. We have consistently supported the wind project for multiple reasons-clean power generation to help reduce fossil fuel consumption, educational opportunities for our students and the community, encouragement of others who are considering renewable energy, and savings on our power bill.
In Spring 2007, we announced plans to move ahead at a news conference on campus. From the start we were delighted with the support we received from the campus and the community. Our students have been among the biggest supporters, urging us not to quit when we encountered difficulties in contracting or licensing or budgeting. Step by step necessary matters were handled. We received the enthusiastic support of the University of Maine System Board of Trustees. Necessary permits and licenses were granted by the city of Presque Isle, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, and the United States Federal Aviation Administration. Collegial negotiations with Maine Public Service set the terms for connection of the wind turbine with the MPS grid. We will continue to rely on MPS at times when the wind is not blowing. A lengthy search for the right turbine manufacturer and the right general contractor who could meet our budget led us to the RRB Company of Chennai, India and Lumus Construction of Massachusetts. Lumus contracted with several County businesses for essential parts of the work.
The actual construction work began late last fall. A remarkable work force installed the base of the turbine in cold, snow, and windy weather. Ten steel rods were set 40 feet below ground in solid bedrock. Construction resumed this spring. Within two weeks of the arrival of the tower and turbine sections, installation was complete. For the last several weeks, testing and certification work has been ongoing. For those wondering why you haven’t seen the turbine blades spin yet, interior equipment installation, electrical hook-up work, and diagnostic testing is still under way, but we hope to see the turbine set in motion by mid-May. We anticipate that all will be completed by the May 14th dedication.
The dedication ceremony will offer descriptions of how the wind turbine works. Suffice it to say here, this is a very sophisticated piece of industrial machinery. The technology is advancing every year as more pioneers like UMPI commit to wind generation. We view this as part of our responsibility as a public university.
As at Mars Hill, the turbines will not be turning constantly. Unfortunately, our first months of operation will be the slowest wind months of the year. Fortunately, the best wind months — mid-fall to mid-spring — are the months of heaviest demand for electric energy on campus. We are able to generate at temperatures down to 20 below zero Fahrenheit.
While we received research support from the United States Department of Energy, funding support from Rebuild America, and a grant from the Maine Public Utilities Commission, the major part of the cost of the wind project has been drawn from campus reserves. We view this as a major investment in the campus and the community for all of the reasons we have explained.
Do join us on May 14 to learn and see more.
University of Maine at Presque Isle
