Written by: Christopher Lagan
The wind turbine installed at Station Juneau will inform decisions on wind energy installations across the Coast Guard. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Dave Funaro)
The energy produced by the turbine will offset nearly 10% of the station’s annual electrical consumption but, more importantly, it is expected to produce data that will inform decisions about future wind energy installations around the Coast Guard.
“The focus of the project is to provide the Coast Guard an opportunity to learn about wind energy in a controlled and easy-access setting while also getting renewable energy,” according to Coast Guard Energy Program specialist Susan Hargis. “What we learn in Juneau will help us make strategic decisions regarding how to implement wind energy around the Coast Guard.”
Thanks to a partnership between the Coast Guard Partnership in Education and the State of Alaska Wind for Schools program, energy specialists like Hargis will have the opportunity to work alongside and share their knowledge with students from the Juneau school district.
“I congratulate the Coast Guard for its leadership in undertaking alternative energy projects that are both appropriate for Alaska and support a national policy of reducing our dependence on fossil fuels,” said Juneau mayor Bruce Botelho. “I am especially appreciative of the Coast Guard’s efforts to incorporate opportunities for Juneau students to study wind turbine technology and power generation.”
Bravo Zulu to Station Juneau, the Shore Infrastructure and Logistics Command, and the Coast Guard Energy Program for this latest inititiative as the Coast Guard remains committed to its leadership role as a good steward of our energy resources.
