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Wind for Schools is a program aiming to create a tangible symbol of a different energy future in rural America. By stimulating wind engineering education, it aims to train the next generation of scientists, technicians, and decision-makers in sustainable energy. The initiative also works on developing low-cost replicable systems in collaboration with local utilities and educational institutions to implement school wind projects. This project approach faces challenges such as securing sponsorships and grant funds, partnering with state energy offices, and coordinating with various stakeholders for successful implementation.
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Wind for Schools Larry Flowers National Renewable Energy Laboratory AWEA Board of Directors October 31, 2007 – Carlsbad, CA
The Depopulation of the Great Plains “When you lose the school,” said a retired teacher, “you’ve lost the town.”
Create tangible symbol of a different energy future in rural America Stimulate wind engineering education in universities 20% wind analysis - 3M job-years of trained workers needed over the next 20 years Schools are central to achieving these goals training scientists, technicians, businesspeople, decision-makers, and teachers of the future training opinion makers and future employees Wind for Schools Cape Cod Regional Technical High School
Wind for Rural Schools About 30% of the nation’s 94,000 K-12 public schools are rural. They serve 27% of the 47M K-12 public school students Source: National Center for Education Statistics Updated: 10-2007
Low-cost replicable system Assist community and local utility to implement a sustainable school wind project Work with AWEA/NEED on K-12 curriculum Build in-state capacity to provide TA for community-scale projects Work with State Universities on college-level program and curricula Wind for Schools – Project Approach Walsenburg, CO
Economics Simple: so it fits with school administration Getting rural utilities to participate Starting up an university technical assistance center Connecting with and selecting candidate schools Curriculum development Wind for Schools – Challenges Milford, Utah
XYZ Company Sponsor RE Grant Funds WTG Manufacturer G.T. State Energy Office WTG $ $ $ Green Tags Marketer DOE $ T/A T/A WAC $ Co-op/Local Utility T/A $ T/A T/A $ D NREL/WPA T/A School Administration Science Teacher & Students D – Data $ – Funds Flow – Knowledge C – Coordination G.T. – Green Tags WTG – Wind Turbine T/A – Technical Assistance C $ C C Community C State Facilitator
Wind for Schools Summit 2007 • SD, NE, MT, KS, ID, CO • State Facilitators • WAC Leaders • Teachers • NREL/WPA Staff • NEED • Small Wind industry reps
Colorado: Tom Potter Idaho: Brian Jackson Kansas: Dan Nagengast Montana: Mike Costanti Nebraska: Dan McGuire South Dakota: Steve Wegman Wind for Schools: State Facilitators • Engage with the variety of stakeholders needed for successful school projects: community, school, science teachers, local co-op/utility, WAC, NREL • Help assemble financial package that will work • Goal: Install 3 to 5 systems per year at rural schools
Colorado State University Boise State University Kansas State University, Montana State University University of Nebraska South Dakota State University Wind for Schools: Wind Application Centers • Training center to educate engineers in wind analysis and applications • Data analysis, technical assistance, implementation support • Become the state source for technical assistance for community wind
Wind for Schools • “An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.” • Benjamin Franklin
Carpe Ventem www.windpoweringamerica.gov