Location, location, location

Pioneer Press Sun, 20 Jan 2008 22:32:21 -0700
Woodbury / Wind may power new high school

East Ridge High School in Woodbury could be powered by wind energy when it opens in fall 2009. South Washington County school district officials are exploring whether they can build a wind turbine on school property. Depending on its size, the wind turbine could produce enough energy to power nearby city facilities and be sold to local energy suppliers. "I think there's a great opportunity for us," said Jim Bain, the district's energy management coordinator. "The payback could be significant over time." Schools in the wind energy business are becoming more common. Dozens of Minnesota districts are looking to build turbines in their back yards or invest in southern Minnesota wind farms to generate green energy and extra cash. Some have undertaken projects on their own, as South Washington County is proposing. The School of Environmental Studies in Apple Valley turned on its 20-kilowatt turbine last month.

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