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Wind Turbines in Your Backyard?

By Anna Yee
By WEEK reporter
January 17, 2012 Updated Jan 18, 2012 at 12:58 PM CDT

CENTRAL ILLINOIS -- For the Hamilton's, the economy is looking up.

Ben is powering his local tool shop with a small wind turbine that his son Nathan installed.

"I drive around the interstate, and I see these phenomenal structures, and I just think they're so cool," said Hamilton, Vice President of Windtech of Illinois. "Why can't we do something like that, and I found a way that we can do that."

Last fall, Nathan helped start his own business, Windtech of Illinois, to bring these structures, and their benefits, to your backyard.

"The average Joe can save money doing this," said Nathan.

"Depending on how my business is affected by the economy, I'd like to see it save me, well, about 25 percent of my bill," said Ben.

That could be thousands of dollars in the turbine's 20 to 25 year lifespan.

Not to mention, qualifying business owners like Ben can write off the purchase on their taxes.

Local wind energy experts want to share the wealth with our youth.

Illinois State and Western Illinois Universities are sponsoring a new program called Illinois Wind for Schools.

High school or college students of any grade can apply.

If accepted, they will get to learn the ins and outs of the wind industry for free.

David Loomis, the Director of ISU's Center for Renewable Energy, says these state-funded lessons will open doors for students, both in and out of the field.

"We really want this to be a furthering for stem education," said Loomis, "so if this got them excited to do engineering, that would be great too."

David Loomis says he hopes schools will install their own wind turbines after learning about their long-term benefits...those that the Hamilton's already see.

"We think that wind energy is the future," said Nathan. "This is something that I can definitely view as a job for the rest of my life."

Schools interested in applying for the Illinois Wind for Schools program have until March 1 to do so.

For more information, visit http://renewableenergy.illinoisstate.edu/wind/WindForSchools/

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