NWTC
|| Riding on the Wind || NREL/SERF || Bob
Thersher ||
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Article:
Renewable Energy: The Answer Is Riding On the
Wind
We
didn't get to meet the director but we wanted you to see the people that
make this place work.
You may be surprised to learn, as we were, that Wind is one of the biggest success stories in the Renewable Energy collection!
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National
Wind Technology Center  Today
we're touring the National Wind Technology Center, the world's largest most
sophisticated test center for wind. Our host is Robert
J. Noun, Director of Communications & Public Affairs for NREL
He says, "The wind turbine's basic design is the same design the world
has used for thousands of years. We have combined the windmill with the
turbine to produce electricity. The design is simple and elegant. The functional
elements used are aero, structural and electrical." |
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We
are also met by Andy Meisser and Scott Wilde (say Wildly without
the 2nd L) to help us
understand what we are seeing. There is nothing impersonal about their work
here. Andy and Scott brought these Westinghouse wind turbines and towers
all the way from a 1980's Hawaii wind farm for testing here at the National
Wind Technology Center. "This site is really hard on the equipment,"
Andy laments. Sometimes the winds come at speeds high above 100mph. Hawaii
was an ideal place for wind farming as gentle trade winds blow across the
Pacific at a steady 13 miles per hour. |
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 Destination:
Top of this 80ft Windmill.
Mike Hamers of Lightspeed Commercial Arts (right) accompanies Larry Nelson, w3w3 Talk Radio and Alan Laxson, NWTC. The voyage begins with a tiny elevator that runs up the center of the tower. If you are claustrophobia - they'll never get you inside. Ahh, but then, up there you have to maneuver your way up and through some pretty tight spaces - if you have a fear of heights don't even attempt the trip up. And when you  finally
make it to the top you've got to wonder about people who will do almost
anything for a view. Really, I think you have to wonder about people like
Scott and Andy above who do this (all the time) for a living. Scott mentioned
his three children motivate his efforts to make this world a better place
for their future. |
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We finished our tour
with Larry Flowers, PE and Team Leader of International Projects.
Larry was fun and entertaining as well as informative. We can see why he
gets a lot accomplished. Speaking of making the world a better place for
our children... Larry's daughter is a glaciologist who is very proud of
her father and his accomplishments. |
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And now we know that Village Power will benefit all of us. As you listen to Larry explain, it becomes very apparent that helping 3rd world countries and people less fortunate than us (some 3 billion of them) we accomplish a lot more for ourselves. Clean air doesn't just exist over our heads and contaminants come from other places that don't have clean fuels. Check with a glaciologist! |
Larry also brought home a poster from Germany, you can see it above, right column - Sun and Wind. Energy straight from the Boss Himself. Hope you have enjoyed the tour. We have one more tour and lots of celebrating... Happy Birthday NREL! |
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| BACK To: Admiral Truly || NWTC || Riding on the Wind || NREL/SERF || Bob Thersher || | |||||||||
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media network - p o box 17340, boulder, co 80308-0340 - Voice: 303.442.1579 Copyright © 1998-2004 w3w3® Media Network |
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Would
you like to go to the top? 
Bob
arranges for another driver and himself to take our group out to the fields
where the giant turbines are perched atop their 80 ft., ultimately 120
ft. towers. Here we meet up with Alan Laxson, Business Outreach,
and pile into his vehicle, turbine bound. Oh yes! Some of us will tour
to the top. When we arrive, people come out of nowhere and help us into
an elevator at the base of the tower and at the end of which is a daunting
climb to the top. 
