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Wind power reaches new height
By CHARLIE
BUTERBAUGH
CALLICOON CENTER, NY — Depending on wind for electric
power is an idea whose time has come. Dick Riseling has been working toward
that
goal for two years.
On Wednesday, April 9, students at the Apple Pond Farming
and Renewable Energy Educational Center attached a 10-kilowatt (kW) wind
turbine atop a 120-foot tower to power Riseling’s farm. The turbine, manufactured
by Bergey WindPower Co. in Oklahoma, will generate a minimum of 12,000 kW
of electricity annually. Riseling used roughly 14,000 kW last year. At a
rate of about $.13 per kW, he spent $1,820 powering his farm in 2002.
“Most think these systems are for people with a lot of money,”
he said. “But the New York State Energy Research Development Authority provided
a 60 percent grant for this $47,000 project.”
According to Riseling, past resistance to wind turbines has
come from misperception. Namely, people were concerned about noise, the safety
of fowl life and television interference.
“Our main purpose is to produce a more educated citizen. We
intend to establish a conversation among our neighbors,” Riseling said.
“People must try to live in greater harmony with nature. We
now have worthy tools, and we know what happens if we don’t stop over-consumption
of fossil fuels,” he said.
Recent local farm initiatives, he says, support his means
and ends.
“The Town of Callicoon approved its Right to Farm Law in May
of 2000. It provides three enabling clauses that stress development of agricultural
structure, practice, and new technology to help farmers reduce costs and
increase production,” he said.
“We also hope to see wind turbines on departments of public
works, libraries, and schools in the near future. We hope to see them illuminating
parts of towns and helping people think about local independence,” he
said.
Anticipating grants, Riseling said, “Next month, [Governor]
Pataki will announce a major wind energy initiative that will provide a 50
percent buy down for home owners, a 60 percent buy down for farmers, and
a 70 percent buy down for schools with renewable energy curriculums.”
While most people find it hard to fathom producing their own
renewable energy, Riseling has proved that community effort makes the enterprise
tangible.
“The idea is to get thousands of them here,” he said.
Bergey has installed turbines in all 50 states and 90 countries.
California has moved aggressively to build wind energy cells, providing a
rebate for each energy watt produced. Bergey’s website (bergey.com) argues
that buying a wind energy cell instead of buying from the power company is
like buying a house instead of renting.
Riseling said New York should reward its citizens for using
wind power just as they reward purveyors of hydro and solar power.
“The energy that I do not use will go to a grid owned by the
electric company. We intend to get a lobby going to change this system.”
“Presently, solar and hydro energy systems run on a net metering
system, which means that if you produce more than you use, you net the bill
of the difference,” he said.
Wind generated energy is not part of that buy-back system
yet.
“The inconsistent treatment of wind energy is unacceptable.
It is simply not fair for the energy company to take electricity,” Riseling
said.
Still, he is happy that the excess energy he produces will
be of use to his neighbors, a step toward consuming less fossil fuels.
“Wind energy reduces pollution, which gets us involved in
international entanglements. Wind energy encourages values of self-reliance
and frugality,” he said.
“Economic, ecological, and social justice organizations must
work in an integrated fashion. Nothing else is acceptable. We will do what
we can to get people to look at that,” he said.
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