A 10K wind generator is effective in any area that is not sheltered by hills and has a Department of Energy wind class of at least 2. All of northern Indiana fits this description. The generator is expected to supply up to 20 % of the electricity needed for Rieth Village

Merry Lea’s wind generator is a BWC EXCEL model, produced by the Bergey Windpower Co., Norman, OK, a leading manufacturer of small business and residential wind systems. 

The wind generator has been funded in part by grants from the United Service Foundation and from the Energy Group, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, State of Indiana.

Merry Lea’s engineer, Alan Chalifoux of Eta Engineers, has calculated that simple payback on Merry Lea’s wind generator (compared to the cost of other energy) will require 17.8 years. The wind turbine, meanwhile, is expected to last 35 years.

Even when the CO2 generated by manufacturing wind turbines is included, wind energy’s emissions of CO2 are on the order of 1% of coal or 2% of natural gas per unit of electricity generated. An operating wind generator produces no pollution.

Noble REMC, the local utility company will meter the electricity produced by the wind generator and purchase some of the power when more is generated than Merry Lea can use. Llikewise, Merry Lea will draw on Noble REMC when wind resources are not adequate. “Our energy cooperative has not had a client install a wind generator in quite some time,” commented Ron Raypole, manager of engineering and construction at Noble REMC. “This is a new venture for us and we are eagar to see how it plays out.”

Based on the wind resources at Merry Lea’s site, the generator is expected to produce approximately 14,000 kilowatts of electricity per year.