COLLEGE WIND TURBINE BEGINS GENERATING ELECTRICITY

With a light wind coming out of the west northwest, the blades began turning late Tuesday on the new wind turbine at Iowa Lakes Community College.

The blades on the wind turbine began operating at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday evening. Expert technicians were on site completing electrical connections and checking mechanical work throughout the day Tuesday. A few more adjustments were made after some readings were recorded and the turbine has now been "commissioned" and is officially "online."

The 230-foot tall structure was erected the first week of February. Blades on the turbine extend to 375 feet. The wind turbine generates approximately 1.65 megawatts. It is located at 1802 S. 19th Street, a few blocks south of the Estherville Campus.

The Wind Energy and Turbine Technology Program was started in the fall of 2004. Students in the program will use this unit extensively in the ‘hands-on’ portion of their class work. The program leads to a two-year Associate in Science degree.

The instructor for the program – Al Zeitz – most recently worked at the wind farm in the Peterson/Alta/Storm Lake area.