I just returned from a Watershed Symposium in Great Falls, Montana. From Forsyth to Great Falls is a 320 mile trip, one-way, and there is some pretty interesting scenery along the way. I usually give myself some extra traveling time so I can stop and take pictures. It’s a good way to break up the trip and I generally learn something along the way. This trip took me by the Judith Gap Wind Farm. I don’t know about you, but the thought of farming wind sounds like a great idea to me. Renewable energy, what a concept! Isn’t it about time we started looking for viable alternatives to fossil fuel consumption?
I have read the usual rhetoric about wind energy; it’s obtrusive, noisy, and dangerous for birds. As you can see, there is no denying that there is a visual impact. The wind towers and rotors are 387 feet tall and the blades are 126 feet across. The concrete pads are 48 feet wide and seven foot deep to accommodate the 400,000 pound weight of the unit. There are 90 towers in all, spread across Highway 191; south of Judith Gap in Wheatland County.
I have read the usual rhetoric about wind energy; it’s obtrusive, noisy, and dangerous for birds. As you can see, there is no denying that there is a visual impact. The wind towers and rotors are 387 feet tall and the blades are 126 feet across. The concrete pads are 48 feet wide and seven foot deep to accommodate the 400,000 pound weight of the unit. There are 90 towers in all, spread across Highway 191; south of Judith Gap in Wheatland County.
I did a little research on the noise concerns and discovered that the turbines at Judith Gap produce 45-50 decibels. To put that into perspective, 30 decibels is comparable to a soft whisper and 40 decibels is equivalent to the noise level in a library. The wind itself will likely drown out the sound of the turbines - at least farther than 1,000 feet away. According to information compiled by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, bird deaths at wind farms average 4 per year, per tower. Bird mortality rates at the Judith Gap wind farm should be significantly lower due to the use of solid tubular towers rather than old-style lattice towers, which encouraged nesting and perching. In addition, the blades of the new style turbines turn much more slowly than the old style, making them much less dangerous.
What does all of this mean to the citizens of Wheatland County? The initial cost of the project was $180,000,000. Approximately 120 people, mostly locals, were involved in the construction process. There are currently 12 full-time employees, again mainly local folks, maintaining the farm. A Lewistown company (local by Montana standards) provided the 22,000 tons of concrete for the project, and it is anticipated that in the next 20 years, Wheatland County will reap $1.2 million annually from a wind-assessment tax, money that will be earmarked specifically for economic-development projects. Good news for a county that has seen its average earnings per job, adjusted for inflation, plummet from $26,318 to $14,216 since 1970.
What does it mean for the people of the great state of Montana? For one thing, it reduces our reliance on fossil fuels, which is always a good thing. Because 13 of the 90, 1.5 megawatt towers are located on state land, the project will contribute nearly $20,000 to the school trust for a one-time installation fee, and future revenues range from about $35,000 to 50,000 annually depending on the volume of power produced. Although it may be too early to tell, it appears that the farm will provide over 8% of the state's residential energy needs.
Sounds like a win-win situation to me. What do you think?
