College considers a wind turbine

Glenn Dreyer, left, Charles and Sarah P. Becker ´27 Director of the Arboretum, and Global Energy Concepts representatives review area site maps.

The College has taken the first step to determine the feasibility of erecting a wind turbine on campus that would generate electric power.

Glenn Dreyer, the Charles and Sarah P. Becker '27 Director of the Arboretum, said a study undertaken by Global Energy Concepts LLC will give the College the data to make an informed decision about whether to move forward with this particular local energy generation project.

In Phase 1 of the project, which began Sept. 18, GEC will determine the amount of wind available on campus and indicate what size turbine, if any, is practical. Phase 2 will examine the regulatory, economic, engineering, environmental and aesthetic issues associated with such a project.

"Given the obvious difficulties with our nation's current energy policies from economic, political, environmental and security standpoints, and the ever-increasing portion of the college budget consumed by our energy utilization, it behooves our community to explore options for the local generation of energy by renewable means," Dreyer said.

The study is being funded by a fee that students initiated in 2001 to support on-campus renewable energy projects. Last year, the fund was used to purchase renewable energy credits that offset nearly 50 percent of the College's annual electricity use. 

The College's Environmental Model Committee, comprised of faculty, students and staff, spent last year reviewing renewable energy options and decided to initiate the wind turbine study.