The first wind generator in the Tyler-Lindale area was raised February 28, 2006.

We are Michael and Nancy Nichols, small business owners. We were awarded a grant from the USDA Rural Development to install a windmill to provide electrical power for our company. Michael Nichols has always been interested in harnessing the power of wind for energy, “With the rise in utility costs, it is wonderful that our government has the foresight to support environmentally friendly projects such as this.”

Unused power is supposed to be bought by the utility company, which was the original agreement back in 2006. The reality is that ONCOR and TXU have created one roadblock after another, but that is another story.

GENERAL INFORMATION: We have a 10 kW BWC Excel, America’s most popular residential & small business wind turbine. The BWC EXCEL is a modern 6.7 meter (22 ft) diameter, 10,000W wind turbine designed for high reliability, low maintenance, and automatic operation in adverse weather conditions. It is available in two configurations: battery charging and grid-connected. It is a ruggedly built turbine that comes with the longest warranty (5 years) in the industry. Connected to the grid, the BWC EXCEL can provide most of the electricity for an average total electric home at moderate wind sites. The all new GridTek 10 power processor (inverter) is the most advanced in the industry and it carries a full UL certification to the latest utility standards. Prices, which include a voltage regulator, pump controller, or a line-commutated inverter, range from $19,900 to $24,750. The BWC EXCEL is most often installed on a guyed lattice tower, which is available in heights of 18 m (60 ft.) to 37 m (120 ft.). Prices range from $6,200 to $9,200. Tilt-up versions of these towers are available for sites without crane access. Non-guyed lattice type towers and monopoles (tapered tubular) towers are also available to heights of 37 m (120 ft). The BWC EXCEL was introduced in 1983 and it has been installed at over 900 sites around the world.

FYI from Nancy: Government grants are complicated. Mike Bergey with Bergey Windpower helped me a lot, but Mike and I still spent 100 hours putting this grant together. You may as well figure that you have to put up $50K at the onset. The grant reimburses 25%. Your business or farm should depreciate the rest so you have that tax savings. Compared to other parts of the country, Texas has few incentives for wind power at this time. East Texas does not have a lot of wind but we believe that there is enough wind here to provide for our business, home, and farm. I must say that there is a deep sense of satisfaction and independence watching our meter spin backwards.

JUNE UPDATE:  The Abu Dhabi solar plant is operational and feeding the grid.

Dubai which is always in the news is about to play second sitar to Abu Dhabi when a new solar power plant comes online.   Abu Dhabi is in general terms, “down the beach” from Dubai and still part of the United Arab Emerates.

Come May/June, the Abu Dhabi plant will begin sending solar power to the grid.  This is being called the first ‘utility scale’ alternative energy project supplying power to the grid anywhere in the Middle East.  Congratulations!
Forward looking executives cash rich on oil and other investments recognize the sands have shifted and the time is now to begin real efforts to provide sustainable power sources.
Engineering for the construction was overseen by Robert Dally who has also been instrumental in California solar projects.

Mubadala Development Co, is a state owned arm of the oil-fired emirate promoting green technologies.  We will be hearing more from this UAE company. Mubadala