FARMERS CONSIDERING WIND

Wind energy can generate the kind of revenue most small farm owners could previously only dream of -- revenue that is generated while the farmer sleeps! Has anybody talked to Willie Nelson about this? (Wind Aid?)

Increased costs motivate farmers to reconsider wind energy
Henry C. Jackson, October 7, 2007 (AP via Ag Weekley)

WHO
Joe Weisshaar, family farm owner, Creston, IA; Brian Zachary, Weisshaar son-in-law/next-door neighbor;

One big turbine can generate a lot of electricity without occupying much land.

WHAT
With Zachary’s grant writing assistance, Weisshar put a wind turbine in on his family farm. The turbine cost $140,000, less a $29,000 USDA grant. Pay off is expected to take 10-15 years, less if anticipated electricity rate increases come sooner.

WHEN
- Weisshar added his wind turbine in February 2007.
- In windy months, the turbine generates 4000 kilowatt[-hours] of electricity while the farm only uses 2000.

WHERE
Creston is in the heart of the heartland, 75 miles southwest of Des Moines. 600 wind turbines in IA, mostly on big wind farms.

WHY
- High energy prices and high overhead is driving small farm owners to look for sources of revenue. A wind energy installation is a good investment.
- Growing biodiesel crops and using low-till or no-till methods to cut costs or earn saleable credits are also strategies small farmers are using.
- The visibility of the wind turbine makes the owners local celebrities
- Weisshar can sell his excess electricity to the local utility or bank it against low-wind periods.

Iowa, like most Midwestern states, has good wind resources. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Brian Zachary: “It’s always been windy here…It’s a resource that’s just been slipping away…We’re pretty sure they’ll keep raising rates…And as the rates get higher, we’re going to save more money in a shorter period of time.”
- Kamyar Enshayan, University of Northern Iowa’s Center for Energy and Environmental Education: “It’s one of those things, just like a regular homeowner, when you start talking about the things you’ve done at your household and how to lower your energy bill…”
- Mary Jane Weisshaar, Joe’s wife: “They see it and they’re excited about it…A lot of people pull into the driveway and they say ‘I’ve wanted to do something like that.’ But they don’t have a clue.”
- Steve Fugate, Iowa-based energy and efficiency consultant to farmers: “Energy prices are just skyrocketing and it’s one of those costs that farmers can’t control at all…You’re looking at people getting five dollars a bushel for corn and if their gas price triples or their electricity bill increases then they’re not making a profit…We all know we’re on a razor’s edge with oil supply and refining capacity…It won’t take a lot, something catastrophic happening, and then it’s not crazy to suggest oil prices might double.”