Erie Community Schools is "Casting" Our Future to the Wind
by Superintendent Mike Ryan
February 01, 2006
Erie Community
Unit School District No.1 is on the threshold of entering
into an enterprising project which conceptually consists of the
installation of a single 1MW turbine and tubular tower which will
disperse the energy generated by the turbine to all six (6) of the
school district's buildings. Our school district has been
recognized by being awarded a $25,000 feasibility grant from the
Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation. Based on early
studies and site evaluations, the District believes that there is a
very high probability that a wind turbine project will be feasible
based on established wind patterns and met tower readings.
Based on various site visits and preliminary analysis,
completed by the District's energy consultant and project partner
Johnson Controls, Inc., the most suitable site for the turbine
location will be at the southwesterly portion of the Erie Middle
School Property.
Energy usage calculations gathered and compiled during the feasibility study provided information so that the turbine will be sized not only to generate energy for the district use for Erie CUSD #1 now, but also for the foreseeable future. Additionally, the feasibility study calculated the energy production needs over the life span of the tower (30 years), and that would include any technology expansion in the classroom i.e., computers. A key item within the feasibility study was to provide analysis and breakdown of the District's energy usage by meter, to determine energy cost savings and payback term. Any excess energy produced by the turbine will be sold to AmerenIP, as put onto Commonwealth Edison's distribution system.
This project as it stands is perhaps the most ambitious project of its type, as we and Johnson Controls believes that Erie School District would be the first school district in the State of Illinois to utilize a single wind turbine to generate energy for an entire (multiple site) District. It is also believed that the Erie School District may be the only existing school district in the nation to take on a project of this proportion and scope.
On January 18, 2006 Erie School District will submit a second grant letter of inquire to Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation. The following deadlines and timelines will be critical in the possible awarding of a grant from ICE that could range from $750,000 to 1,000,000:
* Mid-February 2006 - Request from ICE for Full Grant Proposal Request
* March 2006 - Deadline for Full Proposal Request
* March 13, 2006 - Deadline for Feasibility Grant Summary
* May 2006 - Notification/Awarding of Full ICE Grant
In later articles I will report on the progress, and additional school district enhancements that may be recognized from our wind turbine energy savings project.
