December 13, 2010
Prehn Cranberry Company Makes a Powerful Environmental Statement with Two Endurance G-3120’s!
“I used to hate it when the wind blew, but now I love it!” states Fred Prehn, following installation of the second Endurance G-3120 turbine at his cranberry farm. Dr. Prehn is a dentist who also operates the Prehn Cranberry Company in Byron, Wisconsin, where the turbines were installed.
How did a dentist and cranberry farmer become interested in wind turbines?
Dr. Prehn was on a three week adventure with his son, Fritz, climbing Mount Aconcagua, the highest peak in both the western and southern hemispheres. His son, a Materials Science Major at UW Madison, told his dad that he should, “Do something in renewable energy for your cranberry farm and make a statement!” Dr. Prehn took up his son’s challenge. Initially, it was all about being environmentally friendly. He wanted his own renewable energy source in order to take responsibility for his company’s electrical consumption, and as a result, the first turbine, the Endurance G-3120 35Kw, was installed. Ry Thompson, project manager for Seventh Generation Systems, the company that installed the turbine, said, “It’s a very well-designed, durable machine, and the 30 foot blades make it suitable at lower wind speed environments, which are common in Wisconsin.”
Upon completion of the first turbine installation, new electrical pumps were installed; however, these drastically increased his farm’s electrical consumption. Dr. Prehn then decided to add a second turbine, the G-3120 40kW wind turbine. This second one was better than the first, and Prehn commented, “The second turbine was installed in record time!” Once the installation was completed, Prehn reflected, “I look at the turbines and say, ‘That’s a dumpster less of coal for me and less CO2 going into the atmosphere.’”
Aside from the clear environmental conscience he now enjoys due to his turbines, Dr. Prehn also likes the financial payback. He receives from the local power company, the current rate of 11 cents for every unused kWh his turbines produce. With an average wind speed of 12 mph at his farm location, Dr. Prehn expects each turbine to produce 85,000 to 100,000 kWh annually. Prehn states,“It sure is nice not having an electrical bill. Every few months now, I get a check from my power company.”
After deducting the financial support received from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a Focus on Energy Grant, and a federal grant program, Dr. Prehn estimates that his first turbine cost about the same as an SUV. Dr. Prehn is expecting a 5 year return on this investment.
The 140-foot tall, standing turbine has gathered significant attention from the community. Dr. Prehn has conducted interviews on radio and for newspapers. He receives frequent curious visitors, who wish to see the turbines in operation. One man even stopped by to watch the turbines operate while he ate lunch under the trees. Given the attention these turbines have generated it can be said that Dr. Prehn has been exceedingly successful in making his environmental statement, and he has proven that the G-3120 is “Green Energy That Works!”
© 2010, Endurance Windpower.
www.endurancewindpowerinc.com
Posted by admin on December 13, 2010
