[interesting result of wheeling - from the egroups list - Will] ----- forwarded message ----- Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2000 09:11:07 -0400 From: "Tom Gray" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] CALIFORNIA ELECTRICITY CRISIS SPURS SALES OF HOME WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS ___________________________________________ California consumer interest in home wind energy generators is surging, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) said September 7. The increase in consumer interest is the result of gyrating electricity prices and chronic power outages in the state's restructured electricity market. Some changes in regulations are needed for sales to reach their full potential, according to AWEA. "We have seen sales in California double over the last four months," said Michael Bergey, president of Bergey Windpower, a Norman, Okla.-based company that manufactures the popular 10-kW Bergey Excel wind turbine. "This increase in business is directly attributable to the 'rate shock' experienced by customers," Bergey added. "Our office is overwhelmed with information requests," said Andy Kruse, vice-president of Southwest Windpower, which sells small turbines ranging from 300 W to 4.5 kW in output. "When California deregulated its electricity markets, we all wondered which way rates would go, and what that would do for sales. It's clear now that with rates going up as they have, small wind systems make more economic sense than ever before." Customer interest has been amplified by the Internet. As electric customers look for solutions to their energy woes on the Web and shop around for electricity providers, they often discover a wind energy company's site. "A lot of our recent sales are to people who have never heard of our products before and found our site through the Internet," Bergey said. California offers a rebate of up to 50% on wind energy systems to customers of Pacific Gas and Electric, San Diego Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, and Bear Valley Electric Company. Purchasers of a qualifying wind system must apply to the California Energy Commission, and rebates are issued on a first-come, first-served basis. "This rebate, which is funded by a public benefit charge and encourages customers to invest in wind energy systems, is proving to be a wise investment for California," said AWEA executive director Randall Swisher. "Each home or small business running on wind energy helps reduce overall electricity demand and the need for new power plants and transmission lines." Customers find that installing a small wind energy system is not always easy, however. Los Angeles County currently has an ordinance limiting wind turbine towers to 30 feet in height, a limit that often prevents a wind turbine from functioning effectively. Just as solar panels need access to sunlight, wind turbines need access to wind blowing without turbulence caused by nearby trees and buildings. "Getting a variance is a costly process which discourages many potential customers in L.A. County," said Debby Greer, of Specialized Turbine Services, a wind energy service company and dealer based in Tehachapi. "It's a shame, because a wind energy system can generate much more electricity than solar, so it's an attractive system if your goal is to minimize use of electricity from the grid." In order to tap the potential market for small wind systems and help ease the load on local utility lines, AWEA recommends that county ordinances be tailored to accommodate wind energy systems. AWEA also recommends that the state's rebate on wind energy systems be better publicized, expanded to cover systems up to 50 kW, and extended to all California residents. "Such state and local incentives provide a clear recognition of the public benefits that wind energy provides to the community," said Swisher. Consumer contacts: --California Energy Commission rebate program: (916) 653-2834 or (916) 654-4721 --Bergey Windpower: www.bergey.com --Southwest Windpower: www.windenergy.com --For a full listing of small wind turbine manufacturers, see http://www.awea.org/directory/wtgmfgr.html on AWEA's Web site.