Small Wind Initiative
by Timlynn Babitsky
Appalachian State U. in North Carolina is the go-to place for state-of-the-art information on the small wind systems and turbines currently available in the American Marketplace. Its Small Wind Initiative (SWI) also demonstrates the value of research, partnership, and collaboration in wind energy projects.
Supported by Appalachian State University’s Department of Technology, North Carolina State Energy Office, and the US Department of Energy, SWI is nationally recognized in the small wind industry for the quality of both its efforts and results. Even more impressive is its focus on outreach.
The SWI test and demonstration site on Beech Mountain in western North Carolina features the latest small wind turbine systems suitable for residential, farm, or business applications. The facility is open to the public and provides a unique a hands-on training experience with educational tours, workshops, and seminars.
But their outreach is not just local and site based. Performance assessment data on the small systems they test is provided to any interested party that requests it. This includes utility companies, manufacturers, landowners, state agencies, the press, and anyone else.
The Appalachian State University’s focus on wind energy and it’s Small Wind Initiative are both excellent resources for small wind projects.
Click here to visit this excellent Small Wind Initiative resource on line.