The Governor's Office of Energy Management and Conservation Installs Its First 50-Meter Tower with San Isabel Electric to Evaluate Huerfano Wind Energy Resources.

DENVER -- Tall Tower Will Gather Data to Determine if Site Is Appropriate for Large-Scale Wind Development

The Colorado Governor's Office of Energy Management and Conservation (OEMC) and the San Isabel Electric Association, Inc. (SIEA) announce the raising of a 50-meter wind anemometer tower in Huerfano County as part of OEMC's continuing efforts to examine the feasibility of wind energy. The 50-meter tower provides accurate wind data for securing financing for large wind development projects. This site was selected because data that was collected previously on a 30-meter SIEA tower. The data, analyzed by OEMC, demonstrated exemplary wind resources.

OEMC will loan the 50-meter anemometer tower to SIEA and provide an analysis of the collected wind data, free of charge, as it does for other anemometers used by its loan program partners. The tower is the first of its kind to be used in the region. It has anemometers at 30, 40 and 50 meters and will gather data measurements where a wind turbine hub would be if the site is deemed suitable for a future wind farm. The tower will remain on site for a minimum of six months and up to one year. Data collected will be compared to data collected from the SIEA tower that was previously on the site.

The potential for the site in Huerfano County became apparent after the landowner took part in an anemometer loan program offered by SIEA. The data collected since November 2004 shows the area to have an excellent wind source. It averages 17.3 mph, represents a class 5 wind resource, and is considered excellent according to industry wind classification ratings.

"Wind energy is recognized as a clean, renewable energy source, especially in Colorado's eastern plains, where the nation's fifth-largest wind farm is located. We hope that the data collected from this 50-meter tower shows that this region may be another wind energy resource," said Drew Bolin, OEMC Director.

SIEA personnel will erect the tower on the morning of August 18, with remarks being made by OEMC Director Drew Bolin and SIEA General Manager Bill Wood. The installation site is on property owned by Ed Johnson, an SIEA member. The property is located a quarter mile off County Road 614, which connects with Highway 69, traveling towards Gardner, Colorado.

This is not the first teaming by the OEMC and SIEA to promote rural development of renewable energies. In July of 2004, SIEA hosted Special Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas C. Dorr during the unveiling of their wind tower program. OEMC personnel also participated in the event. Additionally, the OEMC and San Isabel Electric conducted a grant-writing workshop for renewable energy funding in May of this year.

OEMC has eight 20-meter anemometers, which it loans through its Anemometer Loan Program. This loan program was partially funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Central Regional Office with the goal to assist Coloradans in evaluating wind energy by providing measurement equipment and analysis.

More information on OEMC's Anemometer Loan Program can be found by visiting www.state.co.us/oemc. For more information on SIEA renewable energy programs, call 719-547-2160 or toll-free at 800-279-7432.