Everything takes ten times longer and costs twice as much- actually we will be working on both of those items over the next couple of months to get some things finalized. Our real estate investment company is going to own the solar at The Green Leaf Inn all due to some issues on some grants. GLI will just host the systems and purchase the electricity- KMV will get all of the tax benefits.
Thanks to Tom who did our energy audit and solar site survey (available here at our website) we will be doing a bunch of noise level tests. This will help us quantifyactual noise documentation compared to statements like a wind turbine is like putting a bumble bee in each ear and ductaping it shut. More on that in a couple of weeks.
We need some co-operation from the weather to get the construction area back to something other than a mud version of slip and slide but we have finally set a date for the commissioning. This will be a great opportunity for officials and other area residents to be up close and personal for the first time to a real wind turbine. It is important for people to have the opportunity to see solar panels, solar tracking modules, turbines and towers to hear a turbine up close and get used to seeing these technologies all around. It was no different when telephone poles and electric wires were being strung everywhere. People were up in arms tearing them down. Can you imagine not having electricity or phone service.
I still don’t like seeing celltowers everywhere but not having calls dropped has been important to growing commerce. When cell towers were first coming out, local authorities were doing everything they can to block the ugly things from being installed in their backyards. It finally took national pre-emptive laws to remove the local barriers to get cell service rolled out under the commerce and national security clauses.
Personally, I can’t imagine not having a wind turbine in my back yard.
There is no real economic drive for places to put in fueling stations for alternative fuels until there are enough alternative fuel vehicles that need the fuel so it makes economic sense for the investment.
Since The Green Leaf Inn is to be that sustainable solution, we will be reviewing and ordering a natural gas fueling station and an electric fueling station over the next two weeks and placing are orders to get installed before Ecofair360 so they can be art of the energy tour from the fairgrounds. And GLI is looking for a natural gas fueled van or mini-bus. It will be interesting to see what is around and how the tax incentives all work.
There is a ton of stuff happening but every once in awhile you have to stop and just be amazed at life. I was running around trying to get to work and I look out the front window of what is called The Cottage and there running across our front yard- about 70 feet away were four male turkeys running across the yard. That of course got our three Brittany Spaniels excited.
I guess that is part of the experience we are trying to create for www.thegreenleafinn.com – a place where couples can have time to rest and relax and enjoy each other – sustainable building for a sustainable relationship.
There are still some final items that have to be done on the 50kw Endurance Wind turbine (distributed in WI by www.frontierwindenergy.com ) like hooking up the internet link, changing a control, plugging hand holes in the tower. It is a beautiful site to see out our windows. In fact, every time I go by a window I look up at it. Almost done and operational- should be this week. Then we just have to pay for it! Randy Faller’s crew did a great job on the installation and will be handling the annual service- (www.kettleviewre.com ) A lot of pictures and video will be coming so check back.
Actually, Alliant Energy, our local electric utility powered up the transformer a couple of weeks ago setting the stage for the wind turbine installation. It was amazing how quickly their installation crew was in the cold weather.
Alliant Energy, our local electric utility bringing new service and 480 volt back to the 50kw Endurance Wind Turbine so we can complete the installation and start generating electricty.
The first step was to drill under hwy 50 and through the woods that are along the roadway. Technically it was directional drilling- a technique often used in drilling for oil and natural gas. For this, a short string of warm days made the drilling go quickly and they were done in a half of a day. The county ordinances require electric service be underground to a wind turbine. But then again as an upscale boutique hotel projec, underground power lines look nicer and are safer.
The next step will be done next week for trenching from the boring inside of our fence all the way back to the transformer. For this stage they like the ground nice and frozen so the ground doesn’t turn into mush. We already had that with the cement pouring and 2 ft deep trenches that cost $2,000 to smooth out. Final stage is running the lines from the roadway underground and energizing the transformer, meter and interconnect panel.
Then it is time to schedule the installation and pop a bottle of champagne celebrating the commissioning of the largest privately owned wind turbine in the midwest.
The turbine and area required is larger than we first thought so the landscape designers will have a challenge on their hands.
We got a quote for one company that would charge $2,000 and another that you rent their camera for a week for $1,500. I guess it is time to learn a new skill- actually for Catherine to learn a new skill and save some money. That is one thing we have learned is that you have to do ongoing research for everything to keep costs under control.
We are now in that process for the entire building and design to get building prices under control. Developing the specs and handling the bid process is critical for a custom property.
1st step right now is the turbine installtion which should be around mid February- video to follow.
