WINDY DAYS, LOWER ELECTRICITY BILLS

          We seldom hear anything positive about the wind.  But what is the wind reduced your electricity bill by 50 to 90 percent?  That's the claim of the American Wind Energy Association.   According to AWEA, winds above 7 mph can produce electricity with the help of a good wind turbine.  If your home is connected to one, you can receive power from the turbine when the wind blows and from the utility company on those calm days.  Or if the turbine is not producing the necessary amount of energy, the remainder can come from the utility company.  AWEA reports that it is "not uncommon for wind turbine owners with total electric homes to have monthly utility bills of $8-$15 for nine months of the year."
    If you're interested in wind energy, here are some facts for you:

• A wind turbine manufacturer can probably help you make the necessary arrangements with your utility company.  Utility companies must connect with small (less than 80 MW) wind energy machines per the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978.  Your turbine will be anywhere from 5 to 15 KW.

• Your wind turbine will come with an 80-120 ft tower.  You will need at least an acre of land and average wind speeds of 10 mph.

• Your turbine will cost between $6,000 and $20,000 with a 20 year life.   You can expect a return on you investment in 6-15 years.  Meaning that most people end up getting at least 5 years of free electricity.

• Over the life of your wind turbine, you will have stopped about 200 tons of greenhouse gases from being released into the atmosphere.