The turbines were funded by a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, but the turbines lasted for less than four years and were incredibly costly to maintain.
“Since the installation in 2012, the college has spent $240,000 in parts and labor to maintain the turbines,” Kelly Allee, Director of Public Relations at Lake Land College, told The Daily Caller News Foundation.
The college estimates it would take another $100,000 in repairs to make the turbines function again after one of them was struck by lightning and likely suffered electrical damage last summer. School officials’ original estimates found the turbine would save it $44,000 in electricity annually, far more than the $8,500 they actually generated. Under the original optimistic scenario, the turbines would have to last for 22.5 years just to recoup the costs, not accounting for inflation. If viewed as an investment, the turbines had a return of negative 99.14 percent.
“While they have been an excellent teaching tool for students, they have only generated $8,500 in power in their lifetime,” she said. “One of the reasons for the lower than expected energy power is that the turbines often need to be repaired. They are not a good teaching tool if they are not working.”
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9 comments:
I've been saying that wind turbines are NOT a good investment anywhere. Why on earth we are still entertaining the idea for the shore is beyond me. The return on investment is dismal at best. Just NOT ready for the 'big leagues' yet. Stay away from these turbines...
Perhaps theyes should have refrained from buying cheap china made parts
Look at the one by Chesapeake college.
I see it not working more than working when I constantly drive by all the time.
What's up with that?
It seems to me that these wind turbines are the perfect teaching tool! What did we learn during the four years that we had them, students?
CORRECT!
Now, imagine, put them out at sea with the salt air. What would be the repair costs 7-10 miles offshore? Who can spell "astronomical"?
The same goes for solar but they don't learn.
Crisfield is about to suffer the same fate. They are paying only 10% or $420,000 for a $4.2 million piece of crap. Taxpayers are the big losers. Thanks Obama.
Politicians like James Mathias and Somerset County Commissioners need to be educated that garbage in our counties and off our shores will not be tolerated.
Burn Coal. Put Scrubbers on smokestacks instead of using the money on wind power. Revive our economy. Not Rocket Science
Solar costs even more than wind but the costs are hidden through subsidies and hidden ratepayer charges.
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