2008 Woodie Awards
More power: Could Mac get a larger windmill?
With giant wind turbines springing up at nearby colleges, Macalester is entertaining the idea of buying a second, larger windmill
By: Brian Martucci
Issue date: 3/24/06 Section: News
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Three years ago, with the help of a senior class gift, Macalester agreed to build a windmill that now spins above Olin-Rice. Carleton College in Northfield, Minn. followed suit in 2004, building a giant wind turbine that dwarfs Macalesterâ?TMs windmill, which generates around 1 percent of the collegeâ?TMs energy.
Today, as high energy prices have contributed to a national emergence of new windmill projects, Macalester is entertaining the possibility of its own giant turbine, which could be built in farmland south of the Cities.
According to High Winds Fund Director Tom Welna, a windmill with these capabilities could become profitable after about a decade, depending on how much of the investment the college is required to shoulder.
Richard Graves â?TM06 is now pushing for a turbine similar to those that three of Macalesterâ?TMs Midwest peer schoolsâ?"Carleton, St. Olaf and Grinnellâ?"have already constructed or plan to construct on plots of land adjoining their rural campuses.
Carletonâ?TMs turbine was erected in the summer of 2004 and neighboring St. Olaf College expects to construct their own this summer. Grinnellâ?TMs student newspaper, the Scarlet & Black, reported earlier this semester that the construction of a windmill was pending final approval of the schoolâ?TMs Board of Trustees.
These turbines, similar to the one Macalester is considering, are about 400 feet tall and have bladespans greater than the length of a Boeing 747. According to Graves, under ideal wind conditions the turbine would produce about 40 percent of the energy the college needs to function. By comparison, the Olin-Rice windmill produces enough electricity to power 100-150 light bulbsâ?"less than 1 percent of Macalesterâ?TMs total power consumption.
The Carleton turbine cost $1.8 million, though Welna estimated that Macalesterâ?TMs could be built for about $1 million.
According to Welna, the possibility of putting up a wind turbine to supply the college with power was not even considered until recently because the operation would have lost money.
Today, as high energy prices have contributed to a national emergence of new windmill projects, Macalester is entertaining the possibility of its own giant turbine, which could be built in farmland south of the Cities.
According to High Winds Fund Director Tom Welna, a windmill with these capabilities could become profitable after about a decade, depending on how much of the investment the college is required to shoulder.
Richard Graves â?TM06 is now pushing for a turbine similar to those that three of Macalesterâ?TMs Midwest peer schoolsâ?"Carleton, St. Olaf and Grinnellâ?"have already constructed or plan to construct on plots of land adjoining their rural campuses.
Carletonâ?TMs turbine was erected in the summer of 2004 and neighboring St. Olaf College expects to construct their own this summer. Grinnellâ?TMs student newspaper, the Scarlet & Black, reported earlier this semester that the construction of a windmill was pending final approval of the schoolâ?TMs Board of Trustees.
These turbines, similar to the one Macalester is considering, are about 400 feet tall and have bladespans greater than the length of a Boeing 747. According to Graves, under ideal wind conditions the turbine would produce about 40 percent of the energy the college needs to function. By comparison, the Olin-Rice windmill produces enough electricity to power 100-150 light bulbsâ?"less than 1 percent of Macalesterâ?TMs total power consumption.
The Carleton turbine cost $1.8 million, though Welna estimated that Macalesterâ?TMs could be built for about $1 million.
According to Welna, the possibility of putting up a wind turbine to supply the college with power was not even considered until recently because the operation would have lost money.
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