School benefits from green energy

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Wind energy is being 'pioneered' in the southern part of Tippecanoe County.

The Tippecanoe School Corporation erected an 80 foot wind turbine tower at Mintonye Elementary School.

Crews tightened the bolts on the base of the machine and made final electrical connections while students watched the progress.

Inspector John Balson says the wind turbine is expected to generate 6,000 to 8,000 kilowatt hours a year.

"So that if there is an electrical load on in the school, lighting, heating, whatever it may be, it gets priority," Balson said. "That's where the wind turbine energy will go. Weekends, holidays, things like that, the school has no energy needs, the turbine will feed the electricity directly back onto the grid where it can be used for other people and the school can derive something from that. We think there is a big future for this sort of embedded generation, where you basically generate energy the power you need as closest possible to the site, where you are going to use it, the energy."

TSC Energy Director, Sequoyah Bible, said, "Something that is immeasurable is the educational opportunities we have to give to Mintonye, our district, students, staff and taxpayers."

Bible says turbine will not produce enough electricity to power the school, but will reduce the building's utility cost.

Software is being installed on the TSC website so people can track how the turbine is working.