"Plug And Play" Windmill Developed By Rancher

"Plug And Play" Windmill Developed By Rancher ENERGY Wind Power 31-3-33 Set it up. Plug it in. Let the wind blow. Harvesting power from the wind is just that simple with a Skystream 3.7 wind generator. With its built-in inverter, the Skystream doesn't need battery packs or extra equipment. Put up the pole and go. At an average wind speed of 12 mph, it will produce approximately 400 kW hours per month. "Big wind generators are great, but they start at about $1.5 million," says Andy Kruse, Southwest Wind Power, Flagstaff, Arizona. "People can afford ours at $5,100. They're designed for the farm, ranch or rural home owner." Beyond price, there are other features that make the Skystream ideal for consumers. It is ready to plug into the home electrical circuit to replace purchased power. Any excess energy generated goes back into the grid, reversing the meter and earning the homeowner credit against his bill. Working on rural installations takes Kruse back to his beginning in wind energy. As a rancher, he tired of chopping ice from water tanks through the winter. Using wind to power bubblers led him to wind energy and finally to Southwest Windpower. The small generator also requires less wind (8 mph) to start up. Ideal wind speed starts at 12 mph versus 15 for large units. It continues generating at speeds up to 60 mph before kicking out. Sensors in the system constantly monitor machine temperatures, energy produced and wind speed to determine when shut down is needed. A remote control unit controls the entire system. The three 12-ft., fiberglass reinforced, composite rotors power a gearless, permanent magnet, brushless alternator. The entire unit weighs only 170 lbs. It's now available and ready to be used in a North American grid configuration and in marine and battery charging configurations. Even the pole is simple. "Suggested pole height starts at 35 ft and goes to 110 ft," says Kruse. "We suggest being at least 20 to 25 ft. above surrounding objects in a 200 to 250-ft. radius." Skystream 3.7 wind generators have a suggested retail price of $5,100. With an assumed total cost of $8,500 (including installation), the system can have a payback in as little as four years, depending on rebates, tax credits and local energy costs and wind speeds. "Energy costs are going up as much as 75 percent in some areas of the country," says Kruse. He suggests that small windpower generators could look even more attractive if current federal legislation passes. A bipartisan bill could provide a tax credit as great as 30 percent of the cost of a turbine. Southwest's website offers access to wind speed maps and other information to help buyers decide if wind generation is right for them and what incentives, credits and grants are available in their states. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Southwest Windpower, 1801 W. Route 66, Flagstaff, Arizona 86001 (ph 928 779-9463; info@windenergy.com; www. skystream energy.com).

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