One of the first sites greeting visitors to the New Mexico Guard's compound near Santa Fe sees is a slender, 43-foot tall white wind turbine near headquarters. It generates 300 to 400 kilowatts a month, which the state's largest utility, Public Service Company of New Mexico, said is enough for about half the needs of an average home.
The electricity goes into the energy grid and the Guard receives credit on its electric bill. The turbine needs winds of at least 14 mph and can operate in winds up to 200 mph. In its first month, December to January, it operated at about 25 percent efficiency, but Gurule expects that to increase with the spring winds.
Pics here. It's a start. MCAS Yuma and other bases in the Southwest have been chipping at this for a while, but startup costs have knocked them back. Every dollar saved buys more bullets and beans.
Faster, please...
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