Using a single wind turbine, the University of Delaware's Lewes campus soon will shift from being an electricity consumer to a producer -- powering its campus and selling the surplus to the city of Lewes.
Workers completed installation of the wind turbine's blades at the Hugh R. Sharp Campus on Tuesday, and university officials will meet with the Lewes Board of Public Works today -- possibly to finalize agreements that will allow power produced by the turbine to feed into the PJM electric grid. The grid -- which serves Delaware, 12 other states and the District of Columbia -- coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity.
The UD project is in line with state efforts. Delaware officials have been pushing for sustainable energy alternatives and have supported the proposed NRG Bluewater Wind offshore wind project. The state also has agreed to buy the power.
The university's turbine is expected to produce 5.52 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year -- enough to power the Lewes campus and research facilities with some left to spare, said Jeremy M. Firestone, an associate professor of marine policy and legal studies. Firestone is one of several university officials involved in the project.
To read the full, original article click on this link: University of Delaware on the winds of innovation | delawareonline.com | The News Journal
Author: MOLLY MURRAY
