Early Adopter Residential Wind Power Turbines

We have a PV solar system on our roof, so I’m interested in other ways to generate energy. We live on the side of a canyon that is often windy in the late afternoon/evening.  I have always been curious how much a Wind Turbine would cost, how much energy it could make, and how long the return on investment would be. An even bigger factor would be whether I could even get a city permit to install one.

American Wind Energy Association has a nice Wind Energy FAQ. Some highlights:
“As a general rule of thumb, if economics are a concern, a turbine owner should have at least a 10 mph average wind speed and be paying at least 10 cents/kWh for electricity.”

“An 80- to 120-foot tower is usually supplied along with the wind turbine. ”

“A small turbine can cost anywhere from $6,000 to $22,000 installed, depending upon size, application and service agreements with the manufacturer.”

I didn’t realize it, but Clean Power Now reports that even Former President George H.W. Bush has a 33 foot tall windmill.

Clearly, Turbines are not for everyone.

Related posts:

1. Lower Cost Wind Turbines
2. New 2009 Wind Power Tax Credit
3. Wind Turbine Health Problems? Wind Turbine Syndrome?
4. Economic Payback on Solar Power Systems
5. Power Your Restaurant With Waste Vegetable Oil

Posted on September 9th, 2008
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