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| Project Completed. YMCA classes are being run, so sign up there to learn more. |
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| What |
- Installaton of a residential/small-business scale wind turbine at the YMCA
- 600W Wind Turbine - Urban Green Energy
- 160W Whind Turbine - Airbreeze
- 1050W solar panels donated by Solar Connexion
- Grid-interactive (Net metering)
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| Why |
The Virginia Wind Energy Collaborative estimates that investing in 1,000 megawatts of wind energy in VA could result in: |
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- $1.2 billion annual economic benefits
- A reduction of 3.0 million tons of CO2 annually
- Savings of 1.6 billion gallons of water annually
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- Educate the public on the process of installing wind & solar energy
- Provide YMCA Open University courses
- Develop Town planning ordinances for wind and solar electric generation facilities
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| How |
$15K Community Action Grant from Virginia Tech's Office of the President for Research |
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Key Steps: |
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- Investigate the feasibility of a small-scale wind & Solar
- Net-metering
- Uncover potential non-technical barriers to acceptance
- Work with citizens and the town regarding renewable energy zoning and regulations
- Provide research opportunities for student and faculty
- Collect, analyze, and share system data to support economic development through new wind-based business ventures.
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| Read the full project startup document here. |
Results Summary - First Year of Operation
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| Currently the Blacksburg Planning office does not have a permit application process for wind turbines but is expected to release one in the next 12 months. This turbine has received apermit on an experimental basis that lasts one year. Keep a check on the regulations for new developments. |
