The technology for harnessing Montana’s wind, a virtually untapped resource, is getting bigger, better and more efficient, according to a local wind expert.
John Bacon plans to use some of this new technology to develop Montana’s windiest areas into a profitable business of providing renewable energy for his company and the neighboring farmers and ranchers.
Bacon works with the Invenergy wind development company which built the first wind farm in central Montana and is looking to expand his operation in central and north central Montana, as well as throughout the nation and world.
“We have projects in Colorado, Idaho and Montana for 2007. In 2006, we built 350 megawatt projects in Oklahoma, Texas and Iowa. We also have projects in Europe and Tennessee,” said Bacon.
The Invenergy wind farm located be-tween Judith Gap, Mont., and Harlowton was more profitable than expected and is thus about to undergo a 52.5-megawatt expansion to be constructed in 2008, said Bacon.
“The future of the wind technology is getting bigger,” said Bacon. “The 3.5 mega-watt wind turbines are 360 feet tall and are usually built offshore. They can withstand winds up to 125 mph Š The wind turbines near Judith Gap stand 260 feet tall and shut off in 55 mph winds.”
Commercial wind turbines are quite a bit taller than the windmills seen scattered across the Great Plains because the wind patterns are different higher in the atmosphere than closer to the ground, said Bacon. “The higher you go the more consistent the wind,” he explained. “Also, wind migrates higher at dusk.”
Global warming and carbon dioxide issues are driving the market for renewable energies such as wind energy.
For more information, visit http://www.montanagreenpower.com
By SHANNON RUCKMAN, The Prairie Star
