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Quinter school taps into wind energy

Published on -10/19/2007, 11:09 AM

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By KALEY LYON Hays Daily News QUINTER -- A 100-foot-tall wind turbine has been installed east of Quinter Junior-Senior High School, making USD 293 the first district in the state to use wind energy to control electricity costs, said John Brown, managing director for Entegrity Wind Systems. "The leadership of Quinter USD in Kansas is outstanding," Brown said. "From our perspective, it was admirable that they stuck their necks out, and I think they have a great project." The 50-kilowatt generator, provided by Entegrity Wind Systems Inc. of Boulder, Colo., went online Thursday. Construction of the turbine began in early October. Colby-based Woofter Construction erected the tower, which was manufactured by Maico Industries of Ellsworth. Quinter is the first district in Kansas to install a commercial wind turbine and is among the first in the nation. There also have been several school districts in Texas to implement similar projects, Brown said. Several Kansas schools soon could follow in Quinter's footsteps, however. Construction of three turbines is under way at Pratt Community College, and projects are being considered for schools in Salina, Moscow and Ashland, Brown said. "We're excited about working with other Kansas school districts and entities," he said. Quinter USD 293 Superintendent Allaire Homburg said the district school board had discussed using alternative energy for years and wanted to pioneer such projects in the state. "It was important to us," Homburg said. "This is something that should be done, and we wanted to be one of the first." So far, community response to the project, which is expected to produce about 140,000 kilowatts of electricity annually, has been positive, Homburg said. "I've heard no complaints, and a lot of people are very, very positive about it," he said. "When we put it up, there were a number of people watching. When the crane first picked it up, the people applauded; it was kind of neat." Electricity generated by the $145,000 machine will flow directly to the high school, but will not be transmitted to other district facilities, Homburg said. Homburg estimates the district will save about $15,000 a year in electricity bills, which means the generator will pay for itself within the first decade of the expected 30-year project life. Homburg said he accredits the district's decision to pioneer the use of wind energy to a "progressive school board" and a "conscientious community." Homburg said the benefits won't only be financial. District math and science classes will have the opportunity to include generator data in class curriculum. The turbine is visible from Interstate 70, and Homburg said he hopes people will stop to look at the machine, which boasts the QHS Bulldogs mascot high in the air. "We're proud of it, and we're pleased with what it's going to mean to the school district and the community," Homburg said. Reporter Kaley Lyon can be reached at (785) 628-1081, Ext. 138, or by e-mail at klyon@dailynews.net.