Alaska Wind for Schools 

What is the Wind for Schools (WfS) program?
The Wind for Schools program started in 2005 with a pilot project in Colorado conducted by Wind Powering America and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Since then, it has grown to encompass 11 states, including Alaska which was added to the program in 2010 along with four other states. The program aims to provide hands-on science education for a wide range of ages, and provide workforce development opportunities for those interested in pursuing a career in renewable energy.In Alaska, the program is being coordinated jointly by University of Alaska Fairbanks Wind-Diesel Application Center (WiDAC) and the Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP).

How does Alaska Wind for Schools program work?
The program installs small wind turbines in elementary and secondary schools while developing Wind Application Centers at higher education institutions. Teacher training and hands-on curricula are implemented in each school to bring energy lessons into the classroom where students learn through interactive and interschool wind-related research tasks. At the college level, students at the Wind Application Centers assist in the assessment, design, and installation of the small wind systems at the host schools, acting as wind energy consultants. They also participate in class work and other engineering projects in the wind energy field, preparing them to enter the energy workforce once they graduate.

What does the Alaska Wind for Schools program provide?
The University of Alaska Fairbanks Wind-Diesel Application Center (WiDAC) and
Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP) help Alaska K-12 schools facilitate the
procurement and installation of wind energy systems by providing:
• Assistance with the application process
• Wind resource analysis
• Wind turbine siting/placement
• Technical assistance in:
o system design
o utility interconnection
o acquiring required permits (which vary by jurisdiction)
The program also provides energy-related curricula and teacher training for K-12 schools
across the state.

Who can participate in WfS?
Any K-12 school is eligible to participate in WfS. Other programs, such as vocational
and technical training centers, are also eligible to participate.

How many schools can participate in WfS?
There is no limit to how many schools can participate. We will work to accommodate
and assist as many schools as are interested.

Can the school district or other local organizations apply for the program?
School districts and local organizations (i.e. Borough, tribe, city) are integral parts of the
program; however, the applicant is typically the school. Any exemptions to this should
and can be approved through the WfS team.

What is the WfS structure and who are the parties involved?
The Alaska WfS program is based around three primary entities: 1) the local school (host
school), 2) the Wind-Diesel Application Center (WiDAC) located at University of Alaska
Fairbanks, and 3) the state facilitator (REAP). The host school will be the owner of the
small wind turbine, and will work to educate students and the community about wind
energy. The WiDAC will provide technical expertise in the application (analysis, siting,
installation, monitoring), of the host school’s wind system. Finally, the state facilitator
will work in the first few years to develop momentum for the program in the state and
link host schools to the WiDAC.

Who else should be involved in the project?
Wind for Schools is a community-based project and any number of entities within the
community and region can be involved. In addition to the school, those entities may
include the school district, local electric utility, Borough, tribal government, city
government, Native corporation, local parents, local clubs, and regional UA campus.

What is the curricula obligation?
The teachers involved in WfS will commit to implementing at least two out of the ten
curricula options, bringing the turbine and energy education into the classroom. These
options include:
• Thirty-minute weekly lessons (K-12)
• An intensives week (K-12)
• Kid wind design (6–12) and/or poster challenge (K-12)
• NEED Youth Project for Energy Achievement Contest (K-12)
• Participation in the Alaska WfS Essay Contest (6-12)
• Power of the Wind After-School Club (K-12)
• Hosting a guest speaker lectures series (K-12)
• Organizing a wind energy conference for interested students (6-12)
• WINDWISE (6-12)
• Organizing an energy-focused science fair (K-12)
The curricula options can be found online at: http://www.uaf.edu/acep/alaska-wind-
diesel-applic/wind-for-schools/

Is WfS curricula just for science classes?
No, the WfS curricula is appropriate for multiple disciplines in K-12 schools, including
math, science, history, and literature.

Can our schools participate by just using the curricula and not installing a wind
turbine?
Yes. Schools can participate by just using the curricula if they are not yet ready to install
a wind turbine. Wind turbines can be installing in future years.

What sort of training is available for teachers?
Teachers will attend one of two hands-on trainings, one in early June or one in August.
These trainings will provide in-depth coverage of the WfS material and an opportunity
for teachers to ask program-related questions. WfS will provide ongoing trainings
throughout the year through webinars and teleconferences. While these trainings are not
mandatory they will be extremely beneficial for teachers unfamiliar with energy science
and wind energy. In addition, regional hubs will be established in order to offer trainings
closer to home. If you are interested in providing training to other regional teachers
please contact kcmaher@alaska.edu.

Can our school choose what kind of wind turbines to use?
Yes, it is up to each school to determine what type of turbine they would like to use for
the program. However, WfS promotes the Skystream 3.7 turbines for several reasons:
• Southwest Windpower offers Skystreams at a 40% discount to WfS participating
schools
• The Skystream is the only small turbine that is certified by the International
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
• The data acquisition system for the Skystream is configured to connect to the
Idaho National Laboratory

What are the differences between the SkyStream 3.7 and Northwind 100 turbines?
The Skystream 3.7 is a 2.4 kW turbine that is IEC certified, approved to survive wind
speeds of up to 140 mph, and costs approximately $20,000 installed. The Northwind 100
is a 100 kW turbine, is also IEC certified, and costs approximately $750,000 installed.

Will WfS help find funding for turbines other than the SkyStream 3.7?
WfS receives a 40% discount on the Skystream 3.7 turbine, significantly reducing the
overall project cost for each school. Due to the high costs associated with other turbines,
WfS is unable to commit time to finding funding for other turbines types.

Will the turbine offset power at the school?
Yes, but only by a minimal amount. The main purpose of the program is to bring wind
energy education into the classroom, not offset the school’s power.

How much money does it cost to participate in the program?
The cost will vary based on the location of the community, but we estimate it will cost
between $14,000-$22,000 per school. This includes the costs of purchasing, transporting,
and installing the turbine, as well as site costs such as foundation construction. However,
the overall cost can be reduced by finding local in-kind contributors for portions of the
project. For example, a local construction company can donate their equipment and labor
towards the foundation construction. The WfS team will assist every school in putting
their project financing package together which will involve as much community support
as possible.
Sample Budget:
Turbine and tower ($7,000 – $10,500)
Turbine installation: 2 people/8 hours ($1,000)
Installation equipment rental ($1,000)
Foundation ($2,000 – $5,000)
Computer for data acquisition system ($500)
Interconnection ($1,500)
Shipping ($0 – $2,500)

Does my school need to raise all of the money for the wind turbine?
WfS requires each host school to contribute a minimum of $1,500 towards their turbine
purchase and installation. This can be either in-kind or cash. The state facilitator, REAP,
will help schools identify potential funding sources for the remainder of the project
costs. In addition, REAP is working bring together statewide sponsorships which will
ultimately lower project costs. However, the project funding is ultimately the
responsibility of each participating school.

What if our community does not have enough wind to power a wind turbine?
Any school can participate in the program. However, there is no benefit to installing a
turbine that does not spin. For schools that do not have enough wind to power a wind
turbine (below a class two wind resource), a weather station can be installed at the
school, providing a similar education tool as the wind turbine. Data from every school
will be made available on the Idaho National Laboratory’s WfS website. Therefore, any
participating school will have access to the data from any other school in the U.S. and
will be able compare wind data from one community to that of another.

What is the level of ongoing involvement required of the host school’s facilities
manager and IT staff?
The facilities manager and IT staff are responsible for the ongoing maintenance and
operation of the data acquisition system. This involvement will be minimal. WiDAC
will provide ongoing technical assistance and will be the first call if there are technical
concerns.

What level of involvement is recommended from the utility?
The utility’s involvement will vary from community to community. It may include
financial and/or in-kind contributions, including labor and the use of equipment for
installing the turbine and foundation. The utility’s involvement will be determined
between the school and the utility.

Who do I contact for more information?
For more information regarding the WfS application process and funding, please contact:

Courtney Munson, Education Director
Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP)
Office 907.929.7770
c.munson@realaska.org
www.REalaska.org

For more information regarding the teacher training and the procurement and installation
of the wind turbines, please contact:
Kimberly Maher, Energy Edcuation Specialist
Alaska Center for Energy and Power, UAF
907.474.6003
kcmaher@alaska.edu
www.akwidac.com