INEL offers to help Pocatello study wind power

Help from the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory could save the city tens of thousands of dollars in studying the feasibility of building windmills.

By John O’Connell

Journal Writer

http://www.journalnet.com/articles/2004/02/12/news/local/news06.txt

During a study session this morning, the City Council will discuss plans to build windmills and sell the power to raise money for city coffers.

INEL wind expert Kurt Myers and Gerald Flieschman, with the Idaho Department of Water Resources Energy Division, will attend the meeting to answer questions.

Dan Sharp, the city’s environment and floodway engineer, said the City Council will soon decide whether to set up anemometers, devices used to measure and collect wind data. The data would be used to determine the best locations for windmills.

Sharp said it would cost the city $20,000 per anemometer if the council chooses to hire a consultant. With INEL’s help, Sharp said the city could do the work without hiring a consultant for about $5,000.

Sharp said if the city goes ahead with the windmill project, a consultant would be needed to help make designs. Windmills cost about $1 million each.

"I think we’re pretty safe to do it ourselves," Sharp said.

Gary Seifert oversees INEL’s Wind Power in America program, intended to establish wind power in states with favorable winds but no commercial wind power.

Seifert analyzes wind data from 31 Idaho locations each month, including spots near Soda Springs, Arbon Valley, the Pocatello Airport and in Fort Hall.

"We’ve got world class wind resources," Seifert said.

Seifert said he would gladly take data from Pocatello’s anemometers, analyze it and compare it with data from the other public sites on the condition that Pocatello’s information be made public.

He said he would also help Pocatello decide upon the best locations for studying extensively and ultimately setting up windmills.

"We will help them avoid wasting the public’s money by helping them avoid putting anemometers where it doesn’t make sense," Seifert said.

Seifert said if Pocatello’s data mirrors data from his other wind study sites, he could use it to make long-term projections. He believes the two best areas for building windmills would be a ridge located east of the Highland neighborhood or the ridge behind the Simplot plant.

"If I were a council member, I would unequivocally support the need to get at least one anemometer in place to validate the resource before I made any other decisions," Seifert said, adding his opinions do not reflect INEL’s opinions. "The anemometer is so cheap compared to the value of the energy it may give you."

Sharp said wind energy is also appealing because Idaho Power would pay the city a credit for selling clean energy. Sharp has spoken with windmill operators near Idaho Falls and Burley about using the same equipment and banding together to facilitate getting replacement parts.

If the city opts to study wind power, windmills could be erected after a year of study, Sharp said.

Also during the study session, which begins at 9 a.m. at City Hall, the council will hear updates from Singles Civitans, the Animal Shelter Advisory Board and the Airport Commission.

To learn more:

For more information about Idaho’s best locations for wind power, check http://energy.inel.gov/powersystems/wind/

John O’Connell covers Pocatello city government and environmental issues for the Journal. He can be reached by calling 239-3128 or by e-mail at [email protected].