Hi !

Renewable Energy in the Agurbs®
"Our corporate goal is to have 10% of power coming from renewables by 2010," Ron Harper, CEO of Basin Electric Power Cooperative told the group at the 7th Annual New & Emerging Technologies Conference of Touchstone Energy Cooperatives in Phoenix. Basin is a cooperative of 120 member systems, which serve 1.8 million consumers in 9 western states. I was there to give a presentation and to learn more about developments in power generation.

I learned of the challenges with renewables like wind, "Forty percent of the time we are operational with wind, at best, in the west. To get power at the flip of a switch is difficult under those circumstances. Gas is really the only thing that you can offset it with." Coal is a much steadier source but you can't just flip on and off coal fired plants at will. The problem with gas is the extreme price fluctuations, as we've seen in the recent years past.

Generating electricity with larger, more cost efficient wind turbines, developed over the past 25 years, has dropped the operating costs dramatically. A report by the US Department of Energy shows this cost dropping from 40 cents/kWh in 1979 to 3 to 4.5 cents today (www.windpoweringamerica.gov).

Wind farms are going to be more prevalent in rural America. These farms create some benefits for the local land owners and a way to continue to diversify the economic base for rural communities. As the demand for renewable energy sources increases, the development of these industries will offer many opportunities. What is your community doing to be apart of the renewable energy movement?

The Blog Log
Visit my weblog to see where I've been and what I learned along the way. This week I blogged on generosity in the heartland, the amazing action in Wimbledon, ND, and a gem in PA as well as several other topics. www.boomtowninstitute.com

On the Road Again
In addition to my travel blog I'll list my upcoming engagements in each issue of The Agurban. Come see me when I'm in your neighborhood!