Answers to some questions:
For a wind turbine system to be an economical investment, the average wind speed in your area must be between 10 and 20 miles per hour. The United States Department of Energy publishes
wind resource maps that should be sufficient for determining the average wind speed in most areas.
- Why did you choose a windmill that is 33' tall?
- That is the height for the Skystream brand turbine I purchased.
- Where is a good place for a windmill?
- You need to be in an area that produces a regular wind. Bodies of water and mountain tops are ideal locations.
- How much energy does your windmill produce and when?
- The windmill produces about 35 percent of our electricity on an annual basis. It is just for our home. The best time of the year is between November and March. It slows down dramatically during the summer. No particular time of day is better than another.
- How many years does it take for a windmill like yours to pay for itself?
- Thanks to state and federal grants, it took less than three years to payoff.
- Does your windmill make any noise?
- It is very quiet. If it is spinning fast, the odds are the waves from the river are making more noise than the turbine.
- Is there a problem with birds or bats flying into the rotating blades?
- No injuries to any birds. During the summer, ospreys are on top of the windmill when it is not spinning. They have repeatedly eaten the antenna that allows me to communicate with it.
- Does a windmill require much maintenance or repairs? How long should a windmill last?
- None so far. It has a warranty of twenty years. It is approaching its eight year.
- Why was it so hard to get all the paperwork/permits to put up a windmill and why don't more people around here have them?
- It was new in 2008 so a lot of the rules had not yet been written. There were political issues as well. The process now has been streamlined. I am disappointed there are not more in the area. Low energy prices are likely the reason.
