Minnesota university scales back wind plans

By Bob Geiger
Dolan Media Newswires

Minneapolis — Plans for a gust of new wind energy at the University of Minnesota Morris campus have died down.

The U of M system’s Board of Regents this month voted to halve the number of new wind turbines near campus, less than five months after proposing the project.

That means the 1,600-student Morris campus, already known for its renewable energy projects, will erect one new turbine instead of two. By doing so, the regents cut project spending from $7.4 million to $4.4 million.

University officials also voted to change financing for the project from Clean Renewable Energy Bonds proposed in June to an internal university loan.

Jacqueline Johnson, chancellor of the Morris campus, said in June the university had opted against the bonds after initially planning to use $5.6 million of the bonds for most of the turbine installation.

Such bonds provide the equivalent of interest-free loans for renewable energy projects. But Johnson said market conditions forced the university to explore other financing options.

The Morris campus started a drive toward energy self-sufficiency in 2005 when a 1.6-megawatt Vestas wind turbine was installed near the liberal arts buildings. University officials claimed the first turbine supplied 60 percent of the campus’ electricity needs.

GO TO THE DAILY REPORTER’S WIND FARM PROJECT PROFILE PAGE

Two years later, university officials broke ground on a nearby biomass-fired power generator. And in October, university officials marked the Morris campus’ 100th anniversary by firing up a $6 million biomass-fueled heating and cooling system.

That system, for which money was approved by the 2005 Minnesota Legislature, is expected to provide 80 percent of heating and air-conditioning capacity at the campus.

Christine Mahoney, director of communications at the Morris campus, said the new wind turbine is scheduled to be installed about one mile from campus.