| In March 2005, the University of
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| | construction in 2005.
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| Minnesota-Morris became the first public
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| | The generator is a model of efficiency,
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| American university to install a
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| | and only takes a breeze of 7-9 mph to
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| large-scale wind turbine to help meet the
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| | begin generating electricity. It takes a
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| school's electrical needs. Since it was
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| | 26 mph wind to generate the unit's full
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| installed, the generator has supplied
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| | 1.65 megawatts. There's a dedicated power
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| some 60 percent of the university's
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| | line to the UMM campus, and if the
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| power. The rest of the school's power
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| | University needs more power, the local
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| needs are purchased from Otter Tail Power
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| | utility lines provide it automatically,
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| Company's Tailwinds Program.
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| | so no one on campus knows if the power is
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| Those figures mean that whether the
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| | coming from the generator or the grid at
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| electricity is generated on site or
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| | any given time. On the other side of the
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| purchased off the grid, 100 percent of
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| | coin, whenever UMM's power needs are less
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| UMM's electrical power needs are supplied
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| | than what the generator is producing, the
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| by wind power, but the school's
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| | excess electric energy is directed back
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| commitment to energy independence doesn't
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| | into the local utility grid.
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| stop there. The university's students
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| | All this is impressive, but the
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| have helped the school reach toward its
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| | university has even more extensive plans
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| energy goals by reducing electricity,
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| | for increasing its energy independence.
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| water, and waste needs. The faculty has
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| | There are plans for the construction of a
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| also gotten into the spirit, as well,
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| | biomass gasification plant at UMM in
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| placing considerable emphasis on green
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| | 2006, which will be capable of meeting 80
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| power and conservation in their
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| | percent of the campus' heating and
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| classrooms.
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| | cooling needs. The plant will use stover
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| The UMM 1.65 megawatt Vestas generator is
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| | (stalk residue) from cornfields in the
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| an impressive sight, with 135-foot blades
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| | area, as well as waste wood, other crop
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| and a 230-foot tower, making the massive
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| | residues and various organic stocks as
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| machine stand some 365 feet tall, but its
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| | its fuel base.
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| impact on the community and the state of
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| | The United States as a whole is second
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| Minnesota goes far greater than that. The
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| | only to Germany in total production of
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| generator has become a major tourist and
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| | wind-generated electricity, with
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| field trip destination in central
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| | California, Texas, and Minnesota leading
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| Minnesota, and has helped raise the
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| | the way.
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| awareness of thousands of people,
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| | Copyright © Jeanette J. Fisher. Publish
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| especially school children, since its
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| | with live links only.
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