Grand River Academy students explore positives and negatives of wind energy

February 04, 2009 03:56 pm

— AUSTINBURG — The Grand River Academy physics class started the year in a natural progression of projects that relate to the construction of wind turbines. The class studied magnets, then electro magnets, motors, generators and turbine blades. As their last project, each student will construct a scale model prototype wind turbine. This poses a large challenge for most students and it will be interesting to see the final projects. This ongoing project is fascinating and inspiring.
Students had many questions about wind power. We hear all the positive aspects of wind energy, but is wind energy the final solution to our country’s energy problems?
One of the benefits of a school like GRA is the close relationships with teachers and the ability to discuss issues such as wind energy outside of class. Wind turbines actually have potential adverse effects that aren’t frequently advertised. These effects include things such as ruining migratory bird patterns. The blades can act as giant sweeping bird smashers. We discussed in physics class how Newton’s laws of motion still apply; the wind carries only so much energy. If a turbine absorbs that energy, then the area downwind of the turbines may not receive the benefits of wind. It has been suggested that areas downwind of turbines don’t receive as much pollen as those above. This changes the soil and plant biology as a side effect of placing a wind turbine in a pasture.
Some questions about wind power were posed to Richard Morrison, chief executive officer of the Molded Fiber Glass Co. MFG is a local manufacturer of wind turbine related products. Mr. Morrison was asked about environmental impact studies, esthetic balance, energy benefits and whether his company had encountered any legal quandaries as they moved forward in this new field. He said that he anticipated those eventualities.
“This is a positive for our country, but there will naturally be conflicts due different points of view,” Mr. Morrison said.
Grand River Academy would like to embrace this source of renewable energy, and this will be an ongoing project that will offer lessons in science, business, technology and law. It is great to be a part of such an exciting era.

Photos

GRAND RIVER Academy students Gus Posner of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Tyler Stetz of South Lyon, Mich., work on an experimental wind turbine as part of Grand River Academy's renewable energy projects. The college prep school plans for wind power to one day supply energy to the Austinburg campus.