Business Model: Wind Farm

Comment

Comment by roy a. laplante III on July 13, 2008 at 2:13pm

Great idea joe, Let's also include Geothermal as well. My area of the cental coast is prime for wind. The first agenda should be a universal code from the state level setting codes and standards for wind power installations. every county has different rules and they are not designed to be easy or cheap to go thru. It needs to be streamlined so we can rapidly deploy wind farms or individual wind turbines. A turbine on every roof I say;).

Comment by Eric Marsh on July 13, 2008 at 11:56am

I recently purchased a ranch in Central Texas, and the first thing I noticed was the wind. I'm still doing research but am interested in the idea of low cost wind generators for "everyman."

Comment by Joseph Armour on July 13, 2008 at 11:20am

Great questions, Ron.

1. Single wind turbine vs. large wind farm:
As you mentioned, the nature of wind farms allows a single turbine to make an immediate impact. Our group will address the business model from both perspectives.

One thought I had was to create a business model that offers "menu items" based on the size of the project (1 turbine, 5, turbines, 25 turbines, 100 turbines, etc.) This type of scalable business model would allow our plan to be used by anyone, no matter how big or small the project may be.


2. For-Profit vs. Not-for-Profit:
As I am sure you are well aware, both the "for-profit" and "not-for-profit" models have advantages. I think the capitalization of each project will determine the type of business organization. Our plan will address both For-Profit and Not-For-Profit models.

Thank you for helping define the scope!

-Joseph Armour

Comment by Ron A. Rhoades on July 13, 2008 at 11:04am

Joseph,

A great group. Thanks for leading the effort.
A question - a "wind farm" can be a single wind turbine, perhaps a large one installed and run by a local town (or an organization which sells power to a local power company). As resources permit, additional wind turbines can be added incrementally. Unlike many other technologies, which require completion of the entire project before "going online," it appears that wind technology can be deployed in stages and possess an immediate impact. My question is - will the group tackle this aspect of wind farms (i.e., business plan for a single wind turbine, with perhaps others to follow), or just larger wind farm deployment? And, is the busines model to be "for-profit" or "not-for-profit"?

I hope others will comment on the cost of this acquiring and deploying this technology at the local or regional level, the "best" wind turbines out there (Mariah Power's group site sounds interesting), information on the development of a business plan (i.e., "how to"), tax incentives which may exist to aid such a business, etc. When time permits, I'll seek to chime in with some observations from a legal perspective.

Thank you again. Ron

Comment by Bill Mollring on July 13, 2008 at 10:15am

Create and supply your own power.
Take a look at our group site Mariah Power. The Windspire is now on display in Washington D.C. at the U.S. Capitol Botanic Garden through October 2008. Units are going up in California, Nevada, and Utah now, and we will very visable and effective throughout Hawaii this year. Mariah will be available worldwide as production increases with the completion of a new plant in Youngstown, Ohio. For more information contact Bill Mollring at : 831 402-2037 mrbillmaui@yahoo.com -
http://www.push.pickensplan.com/group/mariahpower
See my page for Photos or "PHOTOS" on push.pickensplan.com

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