We published a renewable energy article some time back. Wind Power was just one section of a rather lengthy article. We had quite a bit of interest in the article. The most common request was to break the article up into sections. Renewable energy is such a large subject that even the most mechanically inclined can be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information available.

Wind power has been harnessed since around 500 A.D. as a means to process grain. It’s an elegant method that has only improved in efficiency with the advancement of materials science. There are wind power grain mills operating to this day on their original sites. This brings this to the most powerful and weakest aspects of using wind as a sole source of renewable energy. The sighting of a wind turbine is critical.

Read the Wind Map

https://www.wunderground.com/maps/wind/current-winds

Wind maps are a great way to make an informed decision about including wind power in your next infrastructure upgrade. Thankfully meteorologists were fastidious record keepers. By using historical records and local observations on the individual landscape, a trend can be established. Proper interpretation of this data can immediately confirm or rule out a site for wind power potential.

Conditions, Provisions, Restrictions, And Public Comment May Deny

Not all communities are open to the idea, much less implementation of wind power. Zoning rules are an area of great debate where new ideas about land use is concerned. Popular culture is influencing and easing wind power zoning restrictions, but the process of change happens slowly. As a general rule, the closer you live to a developed residential area, the more restrictive the process. Most of the restrictive regulations related to wind power are due to two concerns. Wildlife, and Liability.

Wildlife advocates have postulated a theory that some wind turbine designs “attract” birds to them for “cruel destruction”. There’s pretty sketchy data, but the protestors have a demonstrated history of behaving violently if their demands aren’t adopted as if spoken directly by God. Communities have erred on the side of humoring these voices unless or until more data is collected.

A significantly more vocal element are the liability voices. “I’m just concerned that….” “I worry that my kids might….” This situation can be a rabbit hole with a super massive black hole at the bottom. The NIMBY lobby can make your life hell, and probably will just for sport. I’m not writing this to make a dig at anyone. These are very real situations that have been well documented while siting a wind power project. All of this strife just to ensure your wind turbine won’t hurt anyone or fall on their property.

Picking the right size tool for the job

Wind power equipment options are nearly as varied as this method of renewable energy is old. The average home turbine for the past 10 years has been around 600 Watts. 600W is great for lighting a shop or barn. That doesn’t really satisfy the needs of a self sustaining property though. Most landowners are going to be looking at the 1 to 10 Kilowatt range for a wind turbine. At that level, home batteries can be charged quickly, and power machinery throughout the day. Evening wind energy can maintain HVAC systems which can draw considerable power.

Many landowners opt to use several smaller turbines across their property to save money on power cable. This method starts to make sense when you calculate how much of that $3.50 per foot power cable you’re going to need to wire your ranch. Your individual circumstances and needs from a wind power plan will help you determine what is going to work best. That constant strong breeze you’re thankful for by the milking barn might end up powering the whole building.

What’s this Wind Power stuff going to cost me?

The initial cost isn’t always cheap, but eliminating a power bill for the typical ranch sure does make quick work of a note that will improve your credit and potentially provide a massive tax credit. Add a few USDA grants into the mix, and possibilities blossom faster than daffodils. A full transition to renewable power is not always possible, but every building off the grid is one less bill in the mail.

There are ways to reduce the cost of a wind power installation. Any rancher worth the title has the skills necessary to build a solid concrete base. Doing a bit or reading and watching a few video’s will take you a long way. By all means, get an electrician to the final wiring. Your local government and insurance provider might actually require it by law. The peace of mind alone makes it worth every penny.

A 10 Kw wind power turbine is going to run from $5,000 – 20,000. The wide range is due to style. Vertical or Horizontal. Your location needs will dictate which style will work best for you. There is no “one size fits all” solution. You will need to factor in batteries if you are going for a full off grid setup as well. Prices are coming down, but don’t expect those “awesome deals” people get. They are as rare as hen’s teeth.

All of the popular voices in the wind power field are geared toward supplemental power over replacement power. This approach is best for those who must save up to implement a wind power plan. It also requires the greatest personal discipline. You have to set aside the savings offset by each improvement to fund the next. Some savings will be noticed much faster than others depending on the scale of the replacement stage.

My best advice is to make small meaningful changes like switching to LED shop lights as your bulbs blow. New fixtures that last for decades, can be had for the price of an old style bulb A new LED shop light can be easily purchased for $20 but I’ve seen bulk deals as low as $4 if you buy a whole pallet. These lights are much brighter, and use 5 – 10 W as opposed to 50 – 100 W for traditional T style bulbs. A single fixture change won’t do much but when applied to a whole barn, we’re talking about putting the weekly pizza back in the family farm budget.

The efficiency replacement method is great for those who don’t own their own property but want to make a meaningful impact.

We can’t answer every wind power question, but DOE has a great resource to answer technical questions.