Boulder City OKs experimental wind turbine

By Tiffany Gibson

Friday, Jan. 15, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.

Boulder City has agreed to let a company build an experimental wind turbine on a tract of city land in exchange for the power it generates.

“If this is successful, there is no other alternative energy that can match this technology,” said Richard Steinke, chairman of Wind Sail Receptor Inc.

“This alternative energy would bring in a kilowatt of power much less than 5 cents per kilowatt. There is nothing that I know of that can compete with this, not even coal,” he said.

Steinke said he created his windmill design five years ago, and his calculations indicate his wind turbine will be able to produce more than one megawatt of power with winds of 25 mph. And it should generate energy with winds as light as 3 mph, he said.

At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Steinke submitted a request to use one acre north of Canyon Road to build and observe his wind turbine for a year. He said he also plans to build a blade-constructing facility nearby, which would bring an estimated 91 jobs to the city.

“We feel so confident in this that already I have eight countries that have flown in and looked at this technology,” Steinke said. “I have existing orders, but I need to build this to get the sizing of the unit.”

The City Council voted unanimously to grant the land for the project. A license agreement will be presented to the council next month for approval.

City Manager Vicki Mayes said the Canyon Road site was selected because it is a good location for wind and close to the city’s electric system. She said the city will not charge Steinke rent for the land as long as the output from the turbine is provided to Boulder City at no cost.

Steinke told council members that he plans to make his windmill turbine design modular so it will be easier to move if it does not work. He also said he wants to make the equipment blend in with the landscape.

Wind Sail Receptor will pay for all of the project’s expenses, including liability insurance, he said.

Councilman Cam Walker said the wind turbine would help reduce their power rates and allow the community to become more self-reliant, especially with two or three wind turbines.