Windmill power harnesses electricity; R'ville mayor visits idea
News Democratic and Leader
August 6, 2008
www.newsdemocratleader.com
By Chris Cooper
Efforts are continuing in the city of Russellville to implement better ways of reusing resources.
Mayor Gene Zick and grant writer Kaye Simmons recently visited the Windy Hill Farm to gain on-hands information on wind power and the windmill that provides it.
Wilbur Sensing, who owns Windy Hill Farms in Tennessee, shared his personal experience of what it takes to install a windmill. He and his wife Lucy had the idea of having a windmill because the name of their farm.
Sensing located a company out of Arizona that sold residential wind generators and he ordered a system called a Skystream.
Sensing made the windmill tower out of an old crane boom. The base was designed by Wilbur himself and instead of choosing the battery back up system it was recommended to Wilbur to sell his grid power back to the local electric company.
Contracts were made to Nashville Electric Service (NES) and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) which resulted in meetings, requirements, inspections, approvals and paper work.
Sensing's first electric bill only had five days of windmill operation on it and he received a $5 credit.
Mayor Zick, who is a Kentucky environmental commissioner, was very impressed with Sensing's operations. He said the idea goes right along with what the city of Russellville is trying to accomplish, which is to recycle and reuse.
“The wind, sun and water are free and can be recycled, reused and renewed into energy we need and use in everyday life,” said Zick. “We have already begun steps towards ‘Going Green' in out community with the rain barrels and the recycling canisters around our city. Maybe someday we can implement windmills as well.” |
