We just finished installing a Skystream 3.7 turbine on a 45 foot monopole tower outside our Lewiston Office. This is phase two of our Net Metering Demonstration Project. Phase 1 was a 1 kW photovoltaic (solar panel) array.

This project is for educational purposes. Because we receive a lot of questions about wind and solar, we wanted to create a project where members can see actual costs compared to production and make educated decisions on whether to invest or not in this technology. We will be posting detailed information on this website about the costs for both the solar and wind installations along with near real-time generation output.

We choose the Skystream product because of the simplicity of its design. It has the inverter built into the turbine head so it outputs AC power. It turned out to be very simple to assemble the turbine head using basic tools. The turbine costs about $6,000 and has a maximum capacity of 2.4 kW or 2,400 watts.

The remaining costs will depend on how you mount the turbine. It should be at least 45 feet high (higher is better) and be at least 20’ above any nearby obstacles that might disturb wind flow such as trees or buildings. If you go with a monopole tower like we did you won’t need any unsightly guy wires, but it costs almost as much as the turbine, about $5,000 for the tower plus it requires a significant concrete foundation (ours was a 12 foot deep, 3 foot diameter pier). A sectional guyed tower would be easier to install and cost much less, but just wasn’t a good fit in our location.   When budgeting for this type of project don’t forget to plan on a licensed electrician and make sure you visit with your local building department ahead of time about the requirements in your jurisdiction.