Vertical windmill breaks ground

Prototype to be operational by Spring

By FRITZ MAYER

LOCK SHLEDRAKE, NY — Japanese businessman Sam Ikeda brought a bit of his homeland to Sullivan County when he celebrated the ground- breaking of the construction of his company’s first full-sized 1.25-megawatt, vertical-shaft wind turbine.

The event was held on the grounds of Sullivan County Community College where the 110-foot windmill will be erected in the next eight months or so.

Ikeda, who is founder and president of Manhattan-based Environmental Technologies, was joined by college president Dr. Mamie Howard-Golladay and others to herald the coming of this new technology, which Ikeda says is the result of 19 years of study and research.

Instead of spinning like a Ferris wheel high in the air, a vertical windmill goes around like a merry-go-round. The blades are perpendicular to the ground when being pushed by the wind, then are turned parallel to the ground when spinning back against the wind.

Ikeda said, “Given our mission to help solve the problems facing our planet as a result of global warming, we are very excited to install our internationally patented, 1.25 megawatt-class vertical-shaft wind turbine here at the college. This installation of our ETC-LU model wind turbine will be the first, we hope, of many to come.”

Golladay said, “Not only will this turbine complement our existing campus sustainability initiatives, it also will serve as a unique, hands-on learning opportunity for our students, particularly those in our Green Building Maintenance & Management and Environmental Studies programs.”

But not everyone is thrilled with the notion that this untested technology will be built on the campus grounds. Ken Haven’s mother owns a home situated about 500 feet from the site, and he has put college and county officials on notice that should anyone be harmed by the windmill, the officials will be held responsible.

Others have questioned whether the unique turbine, which is expected to generate enough electricity to provide the power needs of about 400 homes, will deliver as promised.

County officials have responded that the risk to the county is minimal because Ikeda’s company is footing the bill for virtually the entire cost of the project.