Students Key Players In Wind Projects

SIOUX FALLS, SD - South Dakota students will become key players in the future development of wind energy. That's the hope, at least, of the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission and energy partners involved in the Wind For Schools program. Earlier this week the PUC announced eight schools (of 32 applicants) had been selected for the wind program in South Dakota. Dozens of schools nationwide are involved in the project. The schools selected will see the installation of a small turbine and resources to use the data in the classroom.

The goal of the program, which was launched in 2005 by Wind Powering America and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory - is to increase awareness of wind energy and "develop an energy knowledge base in future leaders," according to the U.S. Department of Energy, which oversees the program.

South Dakota isn't fully utilizing its available wind energy. The state ranks fourth in the contiguous 48 states for wind potential and yet produces only a fraction of what it could. A fairly young industry, lack of power lines to get the energy to the power grid and the lack of a general awareness and acceptance of alternative energy hamper the state wind energy development.

But that's all changing, and we're glad to see it. The PUC has been active in wind energy development, power companies are seeing its future potential and programs like Wind for Schools are teaching young minds about the importance of alternative energy and getting those young people involved in the alternative energy future.

Through the Wind for Schools project, Douglas, Sanborn Central, Faith, Selby, Aberdeen, Elkton and Stanley County school districts and Memorial Middle School in Sioux Falls will each have a wind turbine installed.

At Douglas, Superintendent Mike Mueller said hopes are to have a turbine installed and the program in place this year. His district appears to be a good candidate for the wind program. Mueller said one science teacher has a wind turbine on his own property and, to add to that, last year the district reduced its energy consumption by 6 percent through conservation awareness and simple lighting fixes. By doing that, energy cost increases were negated. "So the mindset is already in place out here," Mueller said. "So it's a good time for this."

Mueller said the cost to the district was minimal, all told about $3,500, and the program will be used in science curriculums for students in grades six through 12. "There will be some real hands on learning here that will be of benefit to (students) and might spark some interest from them," Mueller said. "It's basically a science lab; a data-acquisition tool. It will be good awareness for the students."

Last week, a representative from Black Hills Power and Light was reviewing sites for the 1.8 Skystream, 70 foot, 1,800 watt turbine at Douglas. The future of the nation's energy won't lie in fossil fuels; it will lie in alternative energy like wind and solar, hydrogen and very likely some form of ethanol. Considering that, we're glad to see this investment in the future of wind energy.

It will be a small turbine at Douglas, about the size that will light a room or power a couple of outlets, but lighting minds to the future of wind energy in South Dakota is a long term investment that will pay out for years to come.