Wind project gathers steam in Fort Collins

FORT COLLINS – Now that an onslaught of customers has committed to purchase energy powered by the wind, the City of Fort Collins must decide whether to use one or two wind turbines for its new venture in providing electricity.A minimum of 350 customers was needed to make the commitment by late last month. By the cutoff date, more than 500 had come forward.
Steve VanderMeer, of Fort Collins Light & Power, said the deadline has been extended to the end of this month. If a total of 700 customers sign up, two turbines will be used. One wind turbine can provide power to approximately 350 customers.
The city agency, along with the Platte River Power Authority, decided to gamble and see if its customers are willing to harness the wind’s energy and use it to power homes and businesses with electricity.
“We would try to provide wind power to those interested for about 2 cents more per kilowatt (compared to what they now pay),” VanderMeer said.
The average residential customer pays approximately 6 cents for energy now. Based on a monthly electric cost of $30, the additional amount would be $10 per month.
Bob Emmert of Platte River Power Authority, a community-owned power supplier, sent out requests for proposals to companies that build and sell wind turbines.
The wind turbines are 150-foot towers with a rotor and generator mounted at the top. The rotor has a diameter of approximately 140 feet. One site under consideration is located near Medicine Bow, Wyo., although the actual site will depend on the provider.
Approximately six RFPs were returned by companies in the United States and Europe.
“Our recommendation [to the City Council] will be to pursue purchasing power from someone else,” VanderMeer said.
That chiefly is because of risk.
“We need this program to be a success,” he said. “If a rotor comes flying off one of the turbines, the risk is someone else’s.”
That goes for maintenance and repair as well.
The power currently used by Fort Collins residents is produced by hydropower and one of the cleanest-burning coal plants in the world, the Rawhide one 25 miles north of town.
“For every kilowatt hour generated by wind power, it is one hour less provided by water and coal, VanderMeer said.
The estimated date for completion of the project and providing wind power is June 1998, assuming there’s enough public interest generated by the pilot program.ÿ