Wind Turbine Erected at MRF - October 16, 2006
A $55,000 Pennsylvania Energy Grant from the Department of Environmental Protection funded the purchase and construction of the tower.
Concrete pads for the tower were poured in mid-September, 2006 and had to cure for 28 days. All materials arrived at the site by October 13th and the tower was assembled on the ground over the next two days.
On October 16th, a crane picked up the "guyed lattice" structure in one piece and placed it on the concrete pads before workers secured it in place.
The turbine is not intended to completely replace the district's reliance on coal-burning fuels, but is meant to represent the potential of similar technology in the future. It is expected that the turbine should produce enough energy to pay for between half and two-thirds of the electricity on the farm.
The turbine began producing electricity at the farm on October 19th and produced 51 kilowatt hours of electricity in its first five days. The other advantage of the turbine is the air quality improvement that would result from use of wind rather than a fossil fuel.
Reducing the Conservation District's reliance on fossil fuels could greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by eliminating 12,000 pounds of carbon dioxide and 20 pounds each of sulphur dioxide and nitric oxide.
Munnell Run Farm plans to add the turbine to its current list of educational opportunities for county school children who visit the farm.
Questions about the turbine should be directed to:
