Wind turbine planned for Crawford

CRAWFORD, Neb. — Schools in Crawford, Neb., plan to harness the wind as a way to teach students about the nation’s energy future.

Dick Lesher, Crawford Public Schools superintendent, said the schools are participating in the Wind for Schools Project and are in the final planning stages of installing a wind turbine.

“The 19-kilowatt turbine will offset only a few hundred dollars in energy costs per year,” Lesher said, “but the purpose is to not necessarily offset energy cost but to be used more as an educational tool.”

It will allow the students to study wind energy and renewable energy resources.

“Banner County is in the process of developing a wind farm, and although that is within the next seven to 10 years, it is an up-and-coming industry,” Lesher said. “Our students will be prepared.”

The estimated cost for the project is $17,000. The school board has allotted $1,500 toward the development. The remaining funds will come from grants, donations and in-kind contributions.

Lesher said school officials have a location in mind and have had two site visits from the Wind for Schools Project staff. As soon as all the funding has been arranged, construction will begin. Plans call for the wind turbine to be operational by this time next year.

Dan McGuire, Wind for Schools Nebraska facilitator with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory said that by 2030, 20 percent of the nation’s energy could be from wind.

“Nebraska has the potential to be the country’s sixth largest producer of wind energy,” McGuire said. “To reach that potential the state needs people trained in wind energy and engineering.”

Crawford is the ninth and most western school to participate in the Wind for Schools Program since it began in 2007.