Tippecanoe Valley Proceeds With Wind Turbine Plans
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
It is the first behind-the-meter installation of this size in Indiana, according to Tony Kuykendall, business development manager for Performance Services.
The project is expected to offset future utility costs and generate revenue for the school corporation.
The school board held an information session for the public at 6:30 p.m. Monday, with two hearings on three resolutions following at 7:30 p.m.
During the information session, Kuykendall said Performance Services was founded about 13 years ago. Its core business is Guaranteed Energy Savings.
"Energy is our business," he said.
The company also has the largest portfolio of Energy Star® certified schools in Indiana, and is the first to do a Design Build project in Indiana. Performance Services also is the first to do a school/city wind energy project in Indiana, in Randolph County.
Regarding wind energy, Kuykendall said, "The U.S. is a major player in this industry."
The U.S. is the no. 2 country with installed wind capacity. The U.S. was no. 1, but has since been surpassed by China.
Wind accounts for 1.25 percent of electrical power, Kuykendall said. Indiana was the fastest growing state for wind power in 2008. There are more than 85,000 U.S. wind energy jobs.
Kuykendall said the primary driver of why they are looking at wind for energy is because of increasing energy costs for the future and the fuel price uncertainty. Other drivers include green and clean energy development, state and federal incentives and national security concerns.
For a description of community wind, Kuykendall said it is a "wind turbine installed on or near school ground benefitting the school corporation and community by reducing operational costs and creating a new revenue source."
To construct a wind turbine, Kuykendall said the criteria required includes a significant and local wind resource, land availability, large or consolidate facilities, ability to connect to local utility lines and utility company support and cooperation. Kosciusko REMC has been a big supporter of Valley's project, he said.
Kuykendall said the Valley campus, which includes the high school, middle school, administration building and athletic fields, is in a good area for wind. The campus also has land available on the western portion.
Valley applied for and received $2.3 million in Clean Renewable Energy Bonds from the federal government for the project. The federal government also will pay 70 percent of the interest on the project. The total cost of the project will be no more than $2.63 million.
Kuykendall also said they have curriculum programs available for teachers for grades kindergarten to 12th grade to go with the wind project.
"This is a very, very tough time for ... everybody. This is a new way schools can utilize taxpayer dollars and save for the future," Kuykendall said.
The wind turbine will be 222 feet tall, and 322 feet tall from base to tip. It will utilize a three-blade system, but not be quite as tall as wind farm turbines.
The life expectancy is 25 years, Kuykendall said, and after that there are a couple of options for the school corporation. It can take the tower down, or upgrade it to carry on for another 20 years.
"It's designed to pay for itself," Kuykendall said.
The turbine will operate in winds from 7 to 60 miles per hour. It has a lot of safety features to protect the investment. Asked if it will create a lot of noise, Kuykendall said the noise is minimal and there will be no vibrations on the ground.
"The cars driving by the school will make a lot more noise," he said.
Steve Meno, public finance vice president with Fifth Third Securities, Indianapolis, gave a presentation on the financial impact of the project.
The federal government bond will cover $2.3 million of the project, with a 70 percent interest rebate. The school corporation will get a tax-exempt school bond for $330,000 to pay for the remaining. Meno said the school corporation wants to pay its interest share back in 15 years. Depending on the interest rate, the corporation's interest share is estimated between $773,243 to $1 million. There will be no tax increase to taxpayers whatsoever on this project because debt on the middle school is coming off in 2014 when the school corporation begins paying off its share, Meno said.
Mark Wise, school board member, said the electrical costs for the campus is $20,000 to $25,000 a month. With the turbine, Valley will save 70 percent of those costs.
The board then held a 1028 hearing and a preliminary determination hearing for the project. All three of the resolutions presented were unanimously approved.
Construction of the wind turbine is expected to begin in June, and the proposed wind turbine will be installed and online by October.[[In-content Ad]]
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It is the first behind-the-meter installation of this size in Indiana, according to Tony Kuykendall, business development manager for Performance Services.
The project is expected to offset future utility costs and generate revenue for the school corporation.
The school board held an information session for the public at 6:30 p.m. Monday, with two hearings on three resolutions following at 7:30 p.m.
During the information session, Kuykendall said Performance Services was founded about 13 years ago. Its core business is Guaranteed Energy Savings.
"Energy is our business," he said.
The company also has the largest portfolio of Energy Star® certified schools in Indiana, and is the first to do a Design Build project in Indiana. Performance Services also is the first to do a school/city wind energy project in Indiana, in Randolph County.
Regarding wind energy, Kuykendall said, "The U.S. is a major player in this industry."
The U.S. is the no. 2 country with installed wind capacity. The U.S. was no. 1, but has since been surpassed by China.
Wind accounts for 1.25 percent of electrical power, Kuykendall said. Indiana was the fastest growing state for wind power in 2008. There are more than 85,000 U.S. wind energy jobs.
Kuykendall said the primary driver of why they are looking at wind for energy is because of increasing energy costs for the future and the fuel price uncertainty. Other drivers include green and clean energy development, state and federal incentives and national security concerns.
For a description of community wind, Kuykendall said it is a "wind turbine installed on or near school ground benefitting the school corporation and community by reducing operational costs and creating a new revenue source."
To construct a wind turbine, Kuykendall said the criteria required includes a significant and local wind resource, land availability, large or consolidate facilities, ability to connect to local utility lines and utility company support and cooperation. Kosciusko REMC has been a big supporter of Valley's project, he said.
Kuykendall said the Valley campus, which includes the high school, middle school, administration building and athletic fields, is in a good area for wind. The campus also has land available on the western portion.
Valley applied for and received $2.3 million in Clean Renewable Energy Bonds from the federal government for the project. The federal government also will pay 70 percent of the interest on the project. The total cost of the project will be no more than $2.63 million.
Kuykendall also said they have curriculum programs available for teachers for grades kindergarten to 12th grade to go with the wind project.
"This is a very, very tough time for ... everybody. This is a new way schools can utilize taxpayer dollars and save for the future," Kuykendall said.
The wind turbine will be 222 feet tall, and 322 feet tall from base to tip. It will utilize a three-blade system, but not be quite as tall as wind farm turbines.
The life expectancy is 25 years, Kuykendall said, and after that there are a couple of options for the school corporation. It can take the tower down, or upgrade it to carry on for another 20 years.
"It's designed to pay for itself," Kuykendall said.
The turbine will operate in winds from 7 to 60 miles per hour. It has a lot of safety features to protect the investment. Asked if it will create a lot of noise, Kuykendall said the noise is minimal and there will be no vibrations on the ground.
"The cars driving by the school will make a lot more noise," he said.
Steve Meno, public finance vice president with Fifth Third Securities, Indianapolis, gave a presentation on the financial impact of the project.
The federal government bond will cover $2.3 million of the project, with a 70 percent interest rebate. The school corporation will get a tax-exempt school bond for $330,000 to pay for the remaining. Meno said the school corporation wants to pay its interest share back in 15 years. Depending on the interest rate, the corporation's interest share is estimated between $773,243 to $1 million. There will be no tax increase to taxpayers whatsoever on this project because debt on the middle school is coming off in 2014 when the school corporation begins paying off its share, Meno said.
Mark Wise, school board member, said the electrical costs for the campus is $20,000 to $25,000 a month. With the turbine, Valley will save 70 percent of those costs.
The board then held a 1028 hearing and a preliminary determination hearing for the project. All three of the resolutions presented were unanimously approved.
Construction of the wind turbine is expected to begin in June, and the proposed wind turbine will be installed and online by October.[[In-content Ad]]
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