FellowshipHow T Build A Wind Farm By Mark Hutter Michels Corp.
Michels was the principal contractor on a wind farm recently constructed in the
Brownsville area. Some 86 wind turbines were built and seemed to pop up almost over night in the area. Actually it took several years of planning, doing surveys, talking to land owners, finding financial backing for the $250 million project, jumping through the regulatory hoops and building 23 miles of roads, and laying 16 miles of underground cable including fiber optic cable. The underground concrete bases are seven and a half feet high and 55 feet in diameter (takes 30 truck loads of concrete (262 yards). Each 262 foot high tower takes one day to erect. They come in three sections plus the blades which are 122 in diameter and the neecel ( gear box). Each wind turbine costs around $2 million and will produce 1.5 ,megawatts of power. The wind farm located near Brownsville will produce 129 mw which is sufficient to power a city or 40,000 for a year. There are 46 land owners involved in the Brownsville project each getting between $5 and $6 thousand a year for the use of their land. Often county, state and municipalities take a share of the income as well.
What about the negative side of wind energy? Noise, the flicker syndrome and the wind turbine syndrome. Mr Hutter responded that the sound and sight questions are peculiar to the individual and a very low percentage of the population are affected. Our local power company, Alliant energy purchase power from Invernegy the owner of the wind farm enterprise.
Michels Corp,is celebrating 50 years in business this year.
Future Programs;
March 8 The American Red Cross
March 15 What Sex Is A Republican By Terri McCormick
Birthdays:
Greg Davies March 9, a 3 year Rotarian
Trip Ahern March 11, a 21 year Rotarian
Charlie Beardsley March 14, a 21 year Rotarian
Student Guests:
Horace Mann, Sara Cole
St. Mary’s Springs , Kyle Kiefer
Winnebago Lutheran Academy, Anna Steil
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March 1, 2010 -- Volume 52, Number 9
P.O. Box 182, Fond du Lac, WI 54935-0182Note:
Set aside the evening of March 23rd from 5:00 to 7:00 pm for a “Rotary Social” at the Windhover Center. Members and guests are invited.
The Membership Committee met to review the results of the member survey recently completed by over 60 members. Some interesting and useful information was gleaned from the respondants which will be shared with the members at a meeting later this month.
Lisa Mader thanked those that have stepped up to offer help this past weekend for our inbound exchange students. Bears Hockey was the first stop on a busy weekend schedule which included a tour of Mercury Marine, Hoppers Silk Screening, (where they each had a chance to make their own tee shirt), the Police Station, and a dance lesson at “Shut up and Dance”. Thanks to the hosts for their sharing their families lives with youth from around the world. Great job Lisa Mader who organized the whole effort.
Rotary Rewind; Jeff shared information from the Rotary year 1931 when Walter Tack (Walt’s grandpa) was President. It seems that singing was an integral part of each meeting in those years and a Rotary Song Book was presented as proof.
The Jokemaster of the day was Joe Berger. Nice try Joe. We will give you one more chance to redeem yourself next week.
New Members Proposed;
The applications of Rick Fleischman classification, Fabrication Manager (Mid States Aluminum) proposed by Tom Herre and Ryan Scheel Exec. Director Boys and Girls Club, proposed by Bob Alexander have been approved by the Board and Membership Committee and are being forwarded to the general membership for comment. Members have 10 days to comment to the Club Secretary in writing about the applicants.
Guest: Dr. Beth Rogers Doll of Ray Lapierre
Visiting Rotarian; Penny Werner of the Morning Club
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PO Box 182, Fond du Lac, WI 54936-0182