The food was good and the presentations even better at the Walnut Creek Extension District 15th annual steak fry on Saturday, February 14, at Rush Center. Guest presenters were West Wind Energy LLC of Otis and BTI Wind Energy. More than 80 people attended the event, attracted by the topic "What's the Potential for Local Owned Community and Individual Wind Projects?" as well as the meal.
West Wind Energy rebuilds used wind generators and plans to start building its own in the near future. Brantley established the company three years ago as an offshoot of his interest in reducing his personal electrical costs.
The company recently moved into the former Ochs Inc. facility at Otis.
"The new location fits us like a glove," he said, adding that rebuilding wind generators used to take his employees 10 weeks and now takes only 3 weeks. The company has six employees and hopes to increase that number to 20-30.
Brantley said he hopes the business is recession proof, in that he is increasing his employees' hours when other businesses are laying people off.
Benefits of the wind generators include the ability to stabilize electric costs and being 100 percent efficient. Individual wind generators do not require transmission lines but work with distribution lines.
Brantley said the generators Westwind provides are ideal for oil wells, industrial applications, schools, communities, irrigation pumps and feed lots. The state legislation requires power companies to purchase excess power from individuals, which contributes to the wind turbines paying for themselves in less than five years.
Factors influencing the use of wind turbines are zoning, feasibility and concerns such as impact on wildlife. Brantley said the wind turbines operate quietly and are safe for birds. Brantley added far more birds are killed by flying into windows every year than by wind generators.
Jetmore is the first community in the state that is installing wind turbines, and Brantley has been negotiating with Hoisington for a wind generator for its activity center. West Wind rebuilds the turbines, installs them and maintains them for the purchaser.
Bud Estes, general manager of BTI Ness City, introduced BTI Wind Energy LLC, a new offshoot of BTI. He said BTI became introduced to wind power following the destruction of its facility in Greensburg and started the new company to address the issue.
BTI Wind Energy is a distributor of Endurance Wind Turbine. The Endurance is a smaller wind turbine that is designed for personal use. It is a 5KW rated machine that produces 10,000 to 15,000 KWH per year. BTI does not install the wind turbines, but recommends those qualified to install the turbines.
"It's an instant hedge against inflation," said Ron Good, BTI Wind Energy sales manager.
West Wind and BTI said they are not competitors, but providing for different segments of the same market. Kansas is rated as the third windiest state in the nation and ripe for wind generation.
"Think of it as harvest the wind," said Good. "We're on the cutting edge of something big."
