Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Benefits of the Program?
This program provides:
- Preliminary answers to the question: “ Is my land a good site for wind development, particularly small scale wind development?”
- Assessment of wind potential at specific sites
- This program provides free summaries for wind data gathered at the assessed site:
- Raw date gathered from each site
- Summary reports based on wind data from each site:
- Free use of GEO’s anemometers and free data
- Hands-on learing opportunies for CSU engineering students.
I want to put up a wind farm on my property to sell electricity back to the utility. Is this the program for me?
Probably not.
This program is intended to provide wind data for small scale or small
community wind projects - those interested in using the energy
generated by a wind turbine to power or supplement their farm, ranch,
home or community in larger applications. As such, the program loans
out 20m and 30m anemometer towers. It is important to understand that
the anemometers in this program are generally not at heights that would
be suitable by wind developers interested in large wind farms.
How Are Locations Selected?
Sites are selected based on the desire and ability of the applicant to install a wind turbine system. The primary factors considered in the selection include the following:
- Likelihood of wind energy project - Is there a strong chance that the recipient will install a wind turbine if a good resource is identified?
- Type of wind energy project - What type of wind energy project will be considered if the wind resource looks good? For this program, small scale wind projects are encouraged and utility-scale wind farms are discouraged.
- Suitability of location – is there a reasonable chance that the wind will be in a Class 2 or better area?
- Geographic diversity – is this an area which has not yet hosted an anemometer?
- Patience - Applicants that have a good site and have been on the waiting list the longest and remain interested will be given some preference.
What Will I Have to Contribute or Invest?
The program is free to selected applicants. Lessees are required to install the supplied anchors for the anemometer tower and to periodically inspect the tower and replace the data plugs and mail to Colorado State University. Staff and students from CSU are responsible for installing the tower, performing the data analysis, and removing the tower
What Will I Receive as a Lessee?
The following equipment and services will allow participant to assess site-specific wind resources:
- An NRG #40 Wind Vane and NRG #200 Wind Vane
- A 20 meter or 30 meter NRG Systems tower
- An NRG WInd Explorer data logger
- Assistance with data interpretation during period of site monitoring
How Are Long Until I Can Get An Anemometer Tower At My Site?
It may be a while - perhaps years. In February 2008, we chose the top 20 sites from the applications received from March 2006 through January 2008. We had over 70 applications during that period and we get at typically 2-5 applications per month! But we've only got eight 20m towers and three 30m towers in the program and the towers are leased out at one-year intervals.
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