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First Up! Knudson Turbine

Installed June 2011

PDF – Knudson Home Turbine Description

Del Knudson is a realtor that believes wind energy is complementary to rural living. Del’s home on 10 acres near Thorp, Washington looks across the Yakima River and the Kittitas Valley Wind Farm under development. Del wants a turbine a little closer.

Del hopes this turbine will be inspiration to get other community wind projects in the area started. Del is selling his place and moving back to the family ranch a few miles away and thinks a wind turbine will make his property more attractive in the real estate market.

The First Up! turbine was installed and began producing power in June 2011 and is projected to produce enough power for about 45 energy efficient homes (around 200,000 kWh a year).

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE

For Subscriptions or more information, call (360) 306 5331 or email:  info@CascadeCommunityWind.com.

 

Project Details

 

Wind Turbine Specifications: Turbine First Up! is a Vestas V20 120-kilowatt turbine with a 60-foot diameter rotor on a 80-foot monopole tower. It produces enough energy to power approximately 45 energy-efficient homes, or 200,000 kWh yearly output. Total project cost was $380,000. Status: active, installed June 2011; currently seeking subscriptions.

Environmental Benefit: Energy generated by the First Up! turbine is projected to offset 4 million pounds of carbon emissions over the 20-year life of the turbine.

Economic Benefits: Contributes $7,500 in annual tax revenue and adds $84,000 to the local economy each year. (Calculation source: Washington Wind Energy Guidebook)

Location: Turbine First Up! is located in rural Kittitas County near Thorp, Wash., approx. 10 miles west of Ellensburg and situated on a ten-acre piece of property overlooking the Yakima River Valley. Realtor and property owner Del Knudson wanted a wind turbine on his property because he believes in the many benefits of community wind, including the capacity to make his property, which he intends to sell, more attractive in the real estate market.

Subscription Cost: $3,800 for each percentage of the turbine’s energy output for the entire 20-year life of the turbine. CCWC can help you decide what size subscription meets your needs and goals for energy cost savings. (i.e.,1% subscription = $3,800; 3% = $11,400; 10% = $38,000)

Subscriber Savings: CCWC estimates that each percentage of your subscription will generate $4,700 in savings to your electric bill over the 20-year life of the turbine. (i.e. 1% subscription = $4,700 savings; 3% = $14,100 savings; 10% = $47,000 savings)

Renewable Energy Certificates: REC Contracts for First Up! are available for $950 per each percent. (i.e. a REC contract for 1% is $950, 3% is $2,850, etc.) RECs provide businesses and individuals with an opportunity to purchase carbon offsets, reduce pollution, stimulate the local economy, and support a powerful, local renewable energy project. Event greening RECs offset nonrenewable energy consumption of an event and are available to purchase in $40 per mWh increments.