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Boardman schools seek to harness wind power for energy, cost savings
By Rick Rouan
BOARDMAN— The Mill Creek MetroParks board voted last week to submit a letter of support for a grant proposal that could bring wind power to part of a local school district.
The Boardman Local School District is seeking multiple state grants to help build two WindCubes, one stacked upon another, near its athletic complexes behind Boardman Glenwood Middle School, said Jim Massey, director of operations.
The district is seeking letters of support to enhance its grant application.
“What better place to do this than a school,” Massey said.
The WindCubes would help power a weight room, a new athletic complex for wrestling and baseball and some outdoor lighting for sports fields, Massey said.
“It saves the taxpayers money,” Massey said.
Massey said that he could not pin down how long it would take for the WindCubes to pay for themselves, but he did estimate that the district could save $18,000 to $20,000 a year.
The school is doing wind tests to determine how viable the area is for producing wind energy. An anemometer, a device used to measure wind, was placed atop a light pole about a month ago, Massey said, adding that at least 90 days of data are needed.
Such a project could generate several local jobs, Massey said.
“It is a pretty neat thing,” Massey said.
Massey said that the district is still in the preliminary stages of an extensive, 60-page application for the grant. No decisions have been made about purchasing the turbines.
Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.
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Comments
From previous information printed in the Vindicator last May, each Windcube is going to cost $250,000; making the total investment for two to be $500,000. This does not include any installation costs.
Assuming the best case estimate of electric saving at $20,000 per year is true, this means the payback period is a dismal 25 years; without taking into account any interest paid on loans, installation costs, maintenance costs, replacement costs, loss of investment gains that could be obtained by investing the money into something that makes economic and practical sense, etc.
Someone will undoubtedly point out the ”The Government” will provide grants to cover large portions of the cost; suggesting that this is some form of free money which magically makes this very bad business case into a good investment. The truth is, however, that the state grants simply shift the burden of the bad investment onto the state taxpayers. Frankly, it would be a lot simpler and less expensive if the State of Ohio just gave Boardman Schools $20,000 per year. How does that sound to all you taxpayers, who aren’t in Boardman??
As I have said before, I am not against alternate energy sources but any good plan has to make sense, and has to pay for itself. If the technology doesn’t pay for itself, it is not ready for implementation. To deny this and to rely on grants from “The Government” means you have to take money from the taxpayers to subsidize your wishes.
Please let me know if I have any of the costs or facts wrong. I’ll be happy to re-think this, if I am missing something.
I doubt you are. The thing is wind enegry is a scam/.Hell if tere is no wind you have no power This would produce such a smal amount of energy I doubt it would even be enough power to turn the lights on in the cafeteria of the high school..
You both are overlooking the scientific research that could occur with the addition of these wind turbines. Think of the variety of uses the science department could use to supplement the curriculum and/or make it come to life, as well as give kids actual training for a job past high school or something that will help in getting into a college or trade school.
We keep looking to the sky for the return of the smokestakes rather than looking at the ground for the soil and water.......................or our abundant natural gas.
Response to TB:
First, I doubt the Boardman School Board is going to let their high school students anywhere near their $250,000 Windcubes; for safety and economic reasons.
Second, if the purpose of expending the money is for research to improve the technology, to make it more affordable & effective so that it can become a viable alternative; then let’s talk about it in those terms. Let’s see the facts and present the long term business case for more research and development. If it is reasonable to research this further, maybe tax money is necessary or maybe it is not.
Let’s not hide the issue behind false claims of saving money on electricity, pretending that it is currently a viable alternative source. Let’s not waste money installing the technology in schools and other buildings before it is a viable alternative.
It's bad economics. 25 year payback isn't worth doing unless is sponsored by the taxpayer dollar. Tell the school board NO Boardmanites. Think about the noise and ugliness these cubes will provide. No good.
Urine test!
Sounds like someone at Roth got ahold of Boardman schools....