On and off the grid

There are two ways in which you can become personally involved in the use of wind power. First, you can contact your local utility company to find out whether you can sign up for green power. Several utilities around the state allow you to purchase a percentage of your electricity via wind turbine.

Second, if you have the financial and space resources, you can purchase your own small wind turbine to power your home. Depending on the size and type, small wind turbines can power everything from lights and a radio to an all-electric home complete with central air conditioning, or even a small farm or business.

Most of today's home-sized wind generators are used to produce electricity, either to offset electricity normally provided by the local utility, or to generate electricity independently of the utility. Wind turbines can be sized to offset all of the electricity you consume, or a little of it.

Connected to the grid

Grid-connected wind systems are the most common application in use today. The wind turbine generates electricity and the turbine's electronics system ties the wind turbine to the utility's "grid" network of power lines. In essence, the grid is used as storage for excess electricity that the wind turbine produces but the household cannot immediately use. When you produce more than you consume, your electric meter runs backwards, essentially "crediting" you for your excess electricity. In times of low winds, you use this credit up as you buy electricity back from the utility. This arrangement is known as "net metering."

"Off the grid"

Off-grid wind systems are not tied to the utility's network of power lines. These systems store the electricity they produce in a battery bank for use as needed. Unless you live in a deep valley with no wind movement, most areas of Wisconsin are suitable for a home-sized wind system.

I've decided I want my own wind turbine! What do I do first? (CONTINUE)