The University of Alaska Fairbanks Wind-Diesel Application Center (WiDAC) and the Renewable Energy Alaska Project help Alaska K-12 schools facilitate the procurement and installation of wind energy systems by providing:

• Wind resource analysis
• Wind turbine siting/placement
• System design technical assistance
• Utility interconnection technical assistance & guidance
• Technical assistance in acquiring required permits (which vary by jurisdiction)
• Financial assistance
• Ongoing technical assistance

The program also provides energy-related curricula and teacher training for K-12 schools across the state.

Any K-12 school is eligible to participate in WfS. Other programs, such as vocational and technical training centers, are also eligible to participate.

 

There is not a limit to how many schools can participate. We will work to accommodate and assist as many schools as are interested.

 

School districts and local organizations (i.e. Borough, tribe, city) are integral parts of the program; however, the applicant is typically the school. Any exemptions to this should and can be approved through the WfS team.

 

Wind for schools is a community-based project that involves numerous entities within the community and region. In addition to the school, this many involve the school district, utility, Borough, tribal government, city government, native corporation, and regional UAF campus. Community involvement will vary from community to community.

 

The teachers involved in WfS will commit to implementing at least two out of the ten curricula options, bringing the turbine and energy education into the classroom. These options include:

• Thirty Minute Weekly Lessons (K-12)
• An Intensives Week (K-12)
• Kid Wind Design (6–12) and/or Poster Challenge (K-12)
• NEED Youth Project For Energy Achievement Contest (K-12)
• Participation in the AK WfS Essay Contest (6-12)
• Power of the Wind After-School Club (K-12)
• Hosting a guest speaker lectures series (K-12)
• Organizing a wind energy conference for interested students (6-12)
• WINDWISE (6-12)
• Organizing an energy focused science fair (K-12)

Follow the link the find out more about curricula options.

 

Any K-12 schools can participate with the curricula only. The curricula can be accessed on the website and is available to anyone. However, if a school is interested in sending teachers to teacher training for just the curricula they will need to fund their own travel and expenses.

 

No, the WfS curricula is appropriate for multiple disciplines in K-12 schools, including math, science, history, technology, and literature.

 

Teachers will attend one of two hands-on trainings—one in early June or one in August. These trainings will provide in-depth coverage of the WfS material and an opportunity for teachers to ask program-related questions. WfS will provide ongoing trainings throughout the years through webinars and teleconferences. While these trainings are not mandatory, they will be extremely beneficial for teachers unfamiliar with energy science and wind energy. In addition, regional hubs will be established in order to offer trainings closer to home. If you are interested in providing training to regional teachers, please contact melody.moen@alaska.edu.

 

The Skystream 3.7 is a 2.4 kW turbine that is IEC certified and approved to survive wind speeds of up to 140 mph. The Skystream is used primarily as an educational tool with the WfS program. The Northwind 100 is a 100 kW turbine and is also IEC certified. The Northwind offsets significantly more power and costs considerably more than the Skystream.

 

Yes, it is up to each school to determine what type of turbine they would like to use for the program. However, WfS promotes the Skystream 3.7 turbines for several reasons:

• Southwest Wind Turbines offers Skystreams at a 40% discount to WfS participating schools
• The Skystream is the only small turbine that is IEC certified
• The data acquisition system for the Skystream is configured to connect to the Idaho National Laboratory
  
   

WfS receives a 40% discount on the Skystream turbines, significantly reducing the overall project cost for each school. Due to the high costs associated with other turbines, Wind for Schools is unable to commit time to finding funding for other turbines types.

 

It is up to the schools to determine which type of turbine they would like to use. The turbine type and size will ultimately determine how much power is offset. However, the WfS program is primarily educational and the main purpose is to bring energy education into the classroom, not offset the schools power. The SkyStream 3.7 will offset minimal power.

 

The cost will vary based on the location of the community, but we estimate it will cost between $14,000-$25,000 per school. This includes the costs of purchasing, transporting, and installing the turbine, as well as site costs such as foundation construction. The overall cash cost of the program can be reduced by finding local in-kind contributors for portions of the project. For example, a local construction company can donate their equipment and labor toward the foundation construction. The WfS team will assist every school in putting their project financing package together, which will involve as much community support as possible.
Sample Budget:

• 60 ft. monopole turbine ($7,000-$10,500)
• Turbine installation: 8 hrs/2 people ($1,000)
• Turbine installation equipment rental (in kind-$1000)
• Foundation ($2,000-$5,000)
• Computer for data acquisition system ($500)
• Interconnection costs (in kind-$1500)
• Shipping ($0-$2500)
  
   

WfS recommends that school boards contribute a minimum of $1500 for each participating school. This can be either in-kind or cash. The state facilitator, Renewable Energy Alaska Project, will work with each school to create a plan to find funding for the remainder of the project costs. In addition, REAP is working to bring together statewide sponsorships which will ultimately lower project costs. However, the project funding is ultimately the responsibility of each school.

 

Any school can participate in the program. For schools that have below a class two wind class, a weather station can be installed at the school, providing a similar education tool as the wind turbine.

 

The facilities manager and IT staff are responsible for the ongoing maintenance and operation of the data acquisition system. This involvement will be minimal. WiDAC will provide ongoing technical assistance and will be the first call when and if there are technical concerns.

 

The utility’s involvement will vary from community to community. It may include financial and/or in-kind contributions, including labor and the use of equipment for installing the turbine and foundation. The utility’s involvement will be determined between the school and the utility.