Here in Mountain House we live in one of the windiest areas in the country as I am sure you all know all to well. The Altamont pass is one of the windiest of them all rated a #6, the highest number in the rating system. We should not waste this resource and at least supplement the power our parks and service providers (Fire & Police) use with this renewable resource. There would be hurdles like the impact of birds and the towers but with proper planning and education we can get it done. I have listed some links to the basics on wind power.
You have to have spacing between towers and they are supposed to be away from people and objects by 300m. I do not know what the planning is for buildings down by the water plant but that could be a possibility.
A smaller pilot program could be a smaller wind turbine that could supplement the Police and Firehouse. Also the water park/basketball area could also work.
I have taken sample wind measerment and I averaged 4ms to 12ms at ground level at Mountain House Parkway and I205 and measured 4ms to 8ms at ground level at the water park restroom.
Wind speed follows a wind profile power law, which predicts that wind speed rises proportionally to the seventh root of altitude. Doubling the altitude of a turbine, then, increases the expected wind speeds by 10% and the expected power by 34%.
Using alternative energy forms will provide beneficial positive awareness for Mountain House and complement the other great assets that we have. Power generated can be used to power city vehicles, police equipment among other things.
As far as the big wind turbines, detailed planning and feasibly studies need to be done. Maybe Mountain House forms a utility COAP (MHU) and purchases a small piece of property outside the town and builds a small wind farm to sell electricity to PG&E and uses that revenue to supplement the budget.
Here is a link for a town that provides all of its electricle needs plus extra that went online this year.
Good answer. You've clearly put a lot of thought into the topic.
I'm certainly for utilizing renewable energy sources within the district where feasible. At some point the MHCSD will have it's own building for operations. It likely will make fiscal sense to have a PV system installed on that roof as well as the existing waste water plant roof.
When considering these options for residential homes, owners have to consider how long they intend to keep the property. The CSD on the other hand will certainly be around long enough to recoup the costs.
Mike Klinkner has a considerable amount of experience dealing with Methane recapture in public facilities. I'm sure he'll be for exploring that as well at some point.
Thanks, since my work is now involving renewable energy tech I sort of have an advantage. I am going for training on Solar in October in San Diego and should have the license C-47 (Solar) added to my existing C-7 license by next summer. I am adding a forum topic on this if anyone wants to comment further.
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2 years and 19 days ago. Wind Power, 
