Iowa Wind Power | National Geographic

in a part of Iowa where the air is

in a part of Iowa where the air is seldom still a school district counts on

seldom still a school district counts on

seldom still a school district counts on a rock-solid constant

with each turn of two wind turbines

with each turn of two wind turbines right next door

right next door

right next door Spirit Lake schools save in 1993 the

Spirit Lake schools save in 1993 the

Spirit Lake schools save in 1993 the district built the first wind turbine in

district built the first wind turbine in

district built the first wind turbine in the Midwest used to power a school since

the Midwest used to power a school since

the Midwest used to power a school since then it’s added a second larger turbine

then it’s added a second larger turbine

then it’s added a second larger turbine the two combined earn about $120,000 a

the two combined earn about $120,000 a

the two combined earn about $120,000 a year for the school that may not sound

year for the school that may not sound

year for the school that may not sound like a lot until you put it in human

like a lot until you put it in human

like a lot until you put it in human terms well it will mean anywhere from

terms well it will mean anywhere from

terms well it will mean anywhere from two to three teachers which is very

two to three teachers which is very

two to three teachers which is very important at a time right now inside the

important at a time right now inside the

important at a time right now inside the larger newer turbine you get a sense of

larger newer turbine you get a sense of

larger newer turbine you get a sense of its size this turbine stands 180 feet to

its size this turbine stands 180 feet to

its size this turbine stands 180 feet to the height it’s anchored by dozens of

the height it’s anchored by dozens of

the height it’s anchored by dozens of steel rods that plunge 25 feet into a

steel rods that plunge 25 feet into a

steel rods that plunge 25 feet into a concrete foundation what type of a wind

concrete foundation what type of a wind

concrete foundation what type of a wind could this withstand it’s great at the

could this withstand it’s great at the

could this withstand it’s great at the stand-up 230 no small consideration on

stand-up 230 no small consideration on

stand-up 230 no small consideration on Buffalo Ridge a part of Iowa where a

Buffalo Ridge a part of Iowa where a

Buffalo Ridge a part of Iowa where a tornado is not out of the question

the turbines are designed to shut down

the turbines are designed to shut down in strong winds in just eight mile an

in strong winds in just eight mile an

in strong winds in just eight mile an hour winds they’ll produce energy unlike

hour winds they’ll produce energy unlike

hour winds they’ll produce energy unlike the smaller turbine the larger one sends

the smaller turbine the larger one sends

the smaller turbine the larger one sends power to the grid not the school this

power to the grid not the school this

power to the grid not the school this little school district has become an

little school district has become an

little school district has become an energy exporter physics teacher Jan

energy exporter physics teacher Jan

energy exporter physics teacher Jan Beloit can’t imagine why schools

Beloit can’t imagine why schools

Beloit can’t imagine why schools wouldn’t want wind power beyond the

wouldn’t want wind power beyond the

wouldn’t want wind power beyond the economic benefit he finds value in a

economic benefit he finds value in a

economic benefit he finds value in a Learning Lab right outside when I talk

Learning Lab right outside when I talk

Learning Lab right outside when I talk about force and energy and electricity

about force and energy and electricity

about force and energy and electricity they see that we’re producing it right

they see that we’re producing it right

they see that we’re producing it right here students even keep track of the

here students even keep track of the

here students even keep track of the fossil fuels the school’s no longer

fossil fuels the school’s no longer

fossil fuels the school’s no longer consume just to keep the lights on we’re

consume just to keep the lights on we’re

consume just to keep the lights on we’re talking tons of carbon dioxide we’re

talking tons of carbon dioxide we’re

talking tons of carbon dioxide we’re talking tons and sulfur dioxide we’re

talking tons and sulfur dioxide we’re

talking tons and sulfur dioxide we’re talking hundreds of trees so you know

talking hundreds of trees so you know

talking hundreds of trees so you know it’s not just a small thing harnessing

it’s not just a small thing harnessing

it’s not just a small thing harnessing the power to earn and learn on Buffalo

the power to earn and learn on Buffalo

the power to earn and learn on Buffalo ridge the future will be written in the

ridge the future will be written in the

ridge the future will be written in the wind

wind

wind you