First Electric Generating Wind Turbine Up & Running : 6.24.10
Photos By Tommy Stafford : ©2010 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Crews put the finishing touches on Nelson first electric generating wind turbine at Devils Backbone Wednesday afternoon. Click any images to enlarge.
Roseland/Beech Grove
Nelson County, Virginia
After more than a year of weaving in and out of regulatory requirements, Nelson County has its first official wind turbine that is generating electricity. “It actually hooks right into our electric panel which goes directly into the grid,” says Steve Crandall owner of Devils Backbone Brewing Company and founder of EcoTecture, a residential and commercial wind turbine company based here in Nelson. He’s also the owner of Tectonics II Builders located in Beech Grove.
The turbine just seconds before it was pulled up vertically.
“It feeds into the panel. It will augment the electrical needs that we’re doing in the brewery. It won’t come anywhere near supplying what we need, but it helps hedge us against future energy costs and inflation,” Steve continued.
Crews tip the turbine into place.
Steve says the particular type of turbine installed at DBBC can supply somewhere in the neighborhood of 400-500 kilowatt hours of electricity per month, depending on wind. “If you have really good wind you can get up to 2000 kilowatt hours from this size turbine.”
J.K. Kennedy with Tectonics Builders tightens bolts at the base of the wind turbine located just behind Devils Backbone at the intersection of Route 151 and 664.
Steve Crandall checks readings on a laptop from the newly installed wind turbine.
Mike Cognetti (right) the electrician overseeing the installation and Matt Burk with TLC Electric tighten and check ground wires a the base of the turbine.
The installation crew poses for a photo after completion at the base of the wind turbine.
For more information about wind turbines that create electricity, head over to Steve Crandall’s EcoTecture web site: http://virginiaturbine.com/
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Understanding that you can’t have it all — I have some serious reservations about wind turbines. They are not exactly what most people come to the country to see (or hear?). Sure, one is fine, even ten, but when the hills are peppered with fans, blinking night lights and all, well, it will take some getting used to; not a prospect many look forward to. I applaud the effort to find good energy sources, perhaps this is one — I’m just not completely there as yet.
In the meantime Steve Crandall is certainly a leader in many good things happening in Nelson County. What to do? I plan to contemplate it over some good brew, and I know exactly where to find that!