Submitting a Proposal for a Wind for Schools Turbine
Are we a good candidate?
We expect to site
five turbines per year, at rural schools throughout
Kansas. We have five qualities we are looking for in
applicant schools. Experience suggests the best results will come
where all of these qualities are met:
- Good wind: class 3 wind or better, if possible. See Kansas
Wind Maps on the Kansas
Energy Office website.
- An acceptable physical site: high and open, at least 200 ft from
buildings and other obstacles, but not more than 1000 ft from a
building using electricity all year long.
- Community awareness and "pull": a local champion or two working
hard on the ground, support from the local utility, school board,
businesses, banks
- Administrative support at the school: from principal and site
council
- Science teacher willing and able to incorporate the turbine into
school curriculum, with our assistance.
How much does a turbine cost?
The installed cost of a Skystream turbine would be in the $12-15,000
range without WfS support. Skystream offers a substantial
discount in the turbine price for WfS schools. We ask the school
to pay $1500 and generate support from the local community (cash and
in-kind) and utility (in-kind). The Kansas Energy Office
will support this project with $1000 for each school. We
will arrange $2000
donations from the sale of "Green Tags": donations from larger groups
interested in supporting development of renewable energy. For
details, see the Cost Estimates page.
When are proposals due?
2008 proposal submissions are due by 1 April, 2008. The request
for proposals is available as a Word file (click here for download) or contact us
(see main page)
and we'll send you a proposal application.
What information will you want on the proposal?
As
a general guideline, here are some questions we will be asking of
applicants:
- Name/Location
of School/USD#/contact information/website
- Person submitting the proposal with contact
information
- Description of the school property:
- available site at least 200 ft from buildings and trees but
within 1000 ft of a building using electricity year-round
- high and open area with plenty of wind
- 70' x 70' square footprint for guyed tower, slightly smaller
for monopole tower
- consideration for neighbors and school children: what do you
want to see?
- Who will support the project?
- principal, superintendent and school board support
- local community support: electricians, equipment suppliers,
bank(s)
- utility support: can the utility help install the turbine,
provide concrete, steel, wires, connecting boxes?
- Westar customers exception:
the WAC has an existing agreement; you need not contact Westar before
your application is accepted.
- How do you plan to incorporate the turbine into your teaching?
- Science teacher(s) who will be using the turbine
- Use of NEED or other materials
last update 18 February, 2008, by Ruth Douglas Miller