Businesses eye wind energy

With a recent spike in electricity rates forcing scores of small businesses in the Commonwealth to cut costs in order to survive, many are eyeing wind energy as a potential solution and zoning officials are poised to present a series of new regulations soon to help them get it.

Zoning officials have recently seen an upswing in requests by small businesses and homeowners seeking clearance to install wind turbines in response to higher electricity rates, according to zoning administrator Steve Tilley. However, local regulations for erecting wind turbines now only address those used to generate power for sale to consumers.

In response, Tilley has drafted a rule he will present to the CNMI Zoning Board at its July 10 meeting that would regulate the installation of small wind turbines designed to power individual buildings.

“We want to encourage the growth of wind power and alternative energy here,” Tilley said in an interview Wednesday.

The draft regulation, he added, includes equipment standards for the turbines, height limits, noise reduction requirements, rules for where owners can put them up, and safety criteria.

The draft regulation is a major step forward for alternative energy in the Commonwealth after Gov. Benigno Fitial last year signed legislation granting consumers the power to the install home-based energy systems like solar panels and wind turbines. Proponents of alternative energy, however, have seen slow progress since then because regulations based on the new law have yet to be crafted.

Wind energy can provide a major cost savings to small businesses and homeowners according to James Thomas, head of Wind Sock Inc., a Saipan-based company that markets the turbines. For example, a business that requires 800 to 1200 kilowatt hours of electricity each year could purchase a $10,000 to $12,000 wind turbine and see a return on its investment within two years or less.

“We have no shortage of wind on Saipan,” he said. “After all, this is typhoon alley.”

The wind turbines Thomas is preparing to sell once the necessary regulations are in place supply power to a building when spinning, while any additional power needs are met through the normal power grid. The result is a much lower electricity bill, he said.

Several small businesses have approach Thomas about the turbines, he said, but some local government officials are also taking an interest in the technology as a way to reduce overhead costs and stay within their budgets.

“Once everyone knows what the real world benefits are and how it can slash your bills, there’s going to be a lot more requests for wind energy,” he added.