Ohio Schools Turn On to Wind
New Degree in Alternative Energy Technology:
Wind Turbine Major to Start Fall 2009
The first associate’s degree credit program in Ohio
in the burgeoning field of wind turbine power
generation begins fall 2009 at Lorain County
Community College. The Associate of Science
degree in Alternative Energy Technology – Wind
Turbine major will train students to become
installation and maintenance professionals.
Wind turbine power is expected to be one of the
fastest-growing alternative energy sources. The
desire to develop alternative energy sources is
growing rapidly, here and around the world. We
will need qualified people to service the
technology that is involved. According to the
American Wind Energy Association, wind now
provides enough electricity to serve 5.3 million
American homes or power a fleet of more than 1
million plug-in hybrid vehicles. This amount of
wind capacity can generate as much electricity
every year as 28.7 million tons of coal or 90
million barrels of oil. Wind generation currently
displaces 34 million tons of carbon dioxide
annually, equivalent to taking 5.8 million vehicles
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www.GreenEnergyOhio.org
off the road. A U.S. Department of Energy study
released in 2008 found that wind could provide
20% of U.S. electricity by 2030. At that level,
wind power would support 500,000 jobs and
reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as
taking 140 million vehicles off the road.
Achieving the 20% goal by 2030 will require
substantial investment in the nation’s electrical
transmission system, growth in the
manufacturing supply chain, and development of
a skilled workforce to install, operate and
maintain wind turbines.
The new associate’s degree program will cover an
overview of alternative energy sources, with
specialized training in electronics, electronic
controls, mechanical systems and more. The
program will focus on residential-sized wind
turbines and will include training on commercialsized turbines.
For more information: www.lorainccc.edu/energy.
Duncan Estep, Assistant Professor, Engineering
Technologies, Lorain County Community
College
Perkins High SchoolWind Turbines
Pirates Harness the Wind
The Perkins Pirates hope their school will harness the power of a breeze. Almost one year ago, the Perkins Local School District Board of
Education approved a comprehensive energy management contract, which included the installation of three 20-kilowatt wind turbines south
of Perkins High School, 3714 Campbell Street, Sandusky, Ohio. The wind turbines are part of a larger project, engineered by Honeywell
International, to cut the utility costs at the high school and save up to $3.3 million over 15 years.
An Ohio Department of Development grant for $150,000 helped pay for the turbines and their installation. The three 20-kW ReDriven wind
turbines were installed by Wilkes & Company, Inc. ReDriven is one of the leading wind power systems providers in North America, located
in Iroquois, Ontario, Canada.
The school's use of wind turbines has several advantages, Dr. Brian Printy, School Board President said. “They will create energy, which will
help reduce the school district’s energy cost. It sets a tone for our commitment to alternative energy sources.'' Faculty and students will
monitor how the wind turbines work by collection of real data during the turbines' operations. ''It's an on-site science experiment. This will
excite students and teachers alike,'' Printy said.
The wind turbines stand on a galvanized metal monopole, 60 feet tall from the ground to the center hub. The fiberglass blades have a 10-meter
diameter for a total height of 76 feet. The three turbines were installed east of the student parking lot and west of the fence on the west side of
the football field and track during the months of December and January.
In early February, the first electricity generated was greeted with a steady stream of cars visiting the high school parking lot as the turbine
blades silently turned for the first time.
James Gunner, Superintendent, Perkins Local School District
www.GreenEnergyOhio.org
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