Wednesday, March 25, 2009
A miniature 6-foot version of a wind turbine on display in front of Anschutz Library this morning signifies a first in University history: For one year, the library will be powered by wind through Westar Energy.
The library started running on wind power at the beginning of the month, and will continue until March 2010. Lorraine Haricombe, dean of libraries, and Doug Sterbenz, chief operating officer of Westar, will speak on the steps of the library at 10:30 this morning about what sustainable energy can mean for the University.
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Wind Farms in Kansas
Click to view a larger image of this map and learn more about wind farms in Kansas
Map by Jessica Sain-Baird and Tyler Waugh
Ryan Callihan, Lenexa senior and vice president of KU Environs, is the vice chair of the Student Environmental Advisory Board. The board recently voted to pay the cost difference between wind energy and conventional energy for the library. Callihan said the difference was about one cent per kilowatt hour.
England Porter, Independence senior and chair of the SEAB, said the library used roughly 2.89 million kilowatt hours per year, which meant $28,000 would be needed to switch to wind power. Porter said the money would come from a renewable energy and sustainability student fee, which Student Senate approved in 2007. The referendum set a goal for the University to get 20 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.
“It passed with the greatest majority that we know of in Student Senate history,” Porter said.
Westar announced last month that it hoped to more than double its use of wind energy in the next four years. Westar is making wind energy available to public institutions such as the University before making the option available to households.
Craig Hansen, energy program manager for the University, said he had been involved in the Anschutz wind energy project since it began.
“I do believe we need to increase our renewable portfolio,” Hansen said. “I am encouraged that our utility provider is taking a more proactive approach toward offering renewable energy options.”
Video
Beginning next year, Anschutz Library will use wind power as part of the University's initiative to use sustainable energy. View the related URL below to learn more about the University's sustainable energy policies.
Callihan said he was optimistic about Westar’s wind energy initiatives and what they could mean for Kansas.
“Western Kansas has an abundance of under-utilized wind potential,” Callihan said. “As a state, we have the potential to be third in the nation in wind energy production, but currently only derive 1 percent of our energy from wind.”
Porter said that along with the miniature wind turbine and speakers at Anschutz morning, there would be a box that showed how much coal was used to power the library for just one hour. Porter said he hoped students would see the need for renewable energy.
“Our generation at KU may not see as many of the benefits, but I think the next generation at KU will,” Porter said.
— — Edited by Brandy Entsminger
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