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photo by Eric Johnson
Wally Bustad, right, owner of Wallace Bustad's Crane Service, along with Joe Herbst of Natural Energy Alternatives, talk to the Chamber Ambassadors Friday afternoon about the wind tower erected at the business.
Bustad's catching the wind
131-foot wind turbine erected
Published Saturday, June 13, 2009
An Austin business recently erected the first wind turbine connected to Austin Utilities.
Wallace Bustad’s Crane Service celebrated its new 131-foot tower with a Chamber Ambassadors ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday at the business, located at 24000 U.S. Highway 218.
The 20-kilowatt Jacobs Wind Systems wind turbine was manufactured in Prior Lake, Minn. The 131-foot model sells for about $70,000, and Bustad’s will receive a grant to pay for some of the cost.
Joe Herbst, owner of Natural Energy Alternatives, said the wind turbine will save Bustad’s about 53 percent in utility costs. The business should see a payback in about five to seven years.
Herbst said his Sauk Rapids, Minn.-based company sells about 10 turbines per year. The average size is 151 feet.
Wallace Bustad’s Crane Service has been in business since 1958.
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Posted by Big (anonymous) on June 14, 2009 at 8:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
payback of 5-7 years... so, my public school math would say that equals $10-14k per year... and that is saving 50%... so, bustad pays $20-28k per year in utilities??? wow... sounds like somebody needs to get some compact fluorescent bulbs or maybe some better insulation... we keep focusing on how to make more and find more energy, when we really need to look at how to use less...
Posted by Seymour (anonymous) on June 15, 2009 at 10:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm not sure one can make that assumption in the math. Consider that the wind mills like this feed into the local utility line and in those cases, I believe the utility has to pay the source for the excess energy that is fed to it.
All of the facts in the article may be true, but it doesn't necessarily mean Bustad spends $28K per year on utilities.
Bustad may cut their utility bill in half, and then get compensated by Austin Utilities for the excess amount generated, and the payback period might still work out as indicated.
Wind mills only generate energy when they are turning, and there is no mechanism for "storing" the energy. So it is it's unlikely Bustad can get all its needs from their windmill.
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