Weather Tower To Test Wind Power Potential In Carmel

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(CARMEL) - Carmel city officials hope to generate energy for the community using wind power.

A meteorological tower has been completed just north of the Carmel Wastewater Treatment Facility.

Mayor Jim Brainard says the tower is the first step toward determining if enough wind energy can be captured to use as a renewable energy source. The tower will collect data on wind frequency, speed, consistency, and other variables for 12 months.

If the test results indicate a wind tower is feasible, then the city would take the next step toward construction.

The current wastewater facility generates $300-thousand dollars in electrical costs and that number is expected to expand to $800-thousand with the new facility.

The mayor says since each wind tower costs one million dollars, a 10-percent savings on energy costs, or $100-thousand dollars would be needed to proceed.

Brainard says wind power would also help eliminate air pollution, creating a ripple of intangible benefits such as reduction in healthcare costs and economic development.

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