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Family and friends watch as the wind turbine is lifted into place behind Ottumwa FeedCo. Inc.'s storage buildings south of Ottumwa. Courier photo by Mark Newman
Investing in the wind
Wapello County business owner has wind turbine installed
OTTUMWA — Erecting a wind turbine may be good for the environment, but that’s not why Harry Burdock is doing it.
“I’m not too concerned about our climate — I’m concerned about my billfold,” said Burdock, 66, a Wapello County business owner. “I’m looking at this as an investment.”
Behind Ottumwa Feed Co. Inc.’s storage buildings, a crane was raising the 50-foot steel structure into place Wednesday afternoon.
The blades have to be fairly high above surrounding terrain in order to catch enough wind.
Burdock estimates the living quarters for the business manager will now have half its electrical power supplied by the wind. And while it may be a wise investment, Burdock acknowledges part of the allure is how interesting it is to have one of his buildings powered by the wind.
“I had been thinking about a wind generator for a long time — years. But they were out of reach of the common man,” he said.
Early models he looked at ranged up to $50,000 installed, he said.
Installer Adam Mink from Prevailing Power of Shenandoah was putting on his safety harness in preparation for the ride to the top of the tower. He said depending on size, units these days run closer to $10,000.
Burdock ordered his while he was visiting the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines last August.
“This is something that’s definitely catching on,” Mink said. “We just installed one in Bloomfield last week.”
One of the best things about the new unit, said Burdock, is how Alliant Energy will lower his bill: Any power beyond what he needs will actually cause his electric meter to run backwards, cutting costs.
“Pretty good, huh?” asked Burdock. “I may think about doing more. Maybe I’ll put in a solar panel next.”
Mark Newman can be reached at 683-5358 or by e-mail at mnewman@ottumwacourier.com.
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