Welcome to the Colorado Anemometer Loan Program
The Governor's Energy Office (GEO), now the Colorado Energy Office (CEO), previously partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy's Wind Powering America program and Colorado State
University to provide the Colorado Anemometer Loan
Program (ALP). Anemometers measure wind parameters that are used to
determine the feasibility for wind energy. The anemometers are rotated
on an annual basis throughout the State to qualified applicants.
We have information for various types of users, as follows:
Wind developers - You can find information about the collected wind data from previous and current ALP sites.
Potential ALP applicants - You can first find information about the general wind resource in your area and the collected wind data from previous and current anemometer sites. If you are interested in applying, there is an online application form.
Small scale wind aficionados - Suppose you already know that you have good wind or a nearby ALP site shows that there is good wind in your area. Perhaps you want to skip the ALP loan application process and go right to installing a turbine. We have information and links that can help you get started.
Status as of December 22, 2015:
Our funding with the Governor's Energy Office expired on December 31, 2011 and we have been keeping the program alive enough to keep the data analysis ongoing and to remove towers from sites with expired leases with the help of private donations, in-kind donations, and some funds from the DOE--sponsored Wind Application Center project.
Our most recent installation was a 34m tower southwest of La Junta on a small cow/calf operation. We installed this tower on November 30, 2012.
We are currently measuring the wind at two (2) sites across Colorado on 34 meter Earth Turbine towers now owned by CSU that were part of the CSU Wind Application Center. The WAC was supported by the U.S. DOE's Wind for Schools program. These anemometer towers are at the following locations:
- CSU Mountain Campus (Site No. 81) - Installed 8/13/2010. This lease has been extended indefinitely.
- La Junta (Site No. 104) - Installed 11/30/2012. Thus lease has been extended. We expect to remove this tower in May or June 2016.
Upcoming Installations:
Even though our funding has essentially ceased, we will continue to accept applications and evaluate on a case-by-case basis based on the proposed location and the funds available to install the tower. Coloradans interested in applying for an anemometer lease are encouraged to submit applications by following the steps for the online application.
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