CityBus breaks ground on wind turbines

Green is the theme as CityBus breaks ground for construction of wind turbines just in time for Earth Day.

CityBus is building three wind turbines at its administration, storage, and maintenance facilities on Canal Rd. in Lafayette, with construction to be completed by Fall.

Martin Sennett, CityBus general manager, said the wind turbines will generate about half of the electricity needed to power the facilities which will help offset power produced by fossil fuels. “Diverting from fossil fuels to renewable wind energy could save nearly 500 tons of carbon emissions each year,” said Sennett.

Other benefits include reducing operating expenses by lowering the cost of purchased energy, along with the potential of increasing revenue through the sale of energy cap credits, said Sennett.

The $2.18 million project is funded by federal stimulus funds in a program designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from public transit providers. CityBus was one of 49 agencies in the nation awarded such grants in 2009.

The wind turbines, Northern Power 100 models produced by Northern Power Systems, will be installed by Cascade Renewable Energy, a division of Cascade Engineering, Inc. headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The turbines are 155-feet tall from base to blade tip, with a hub at 121-feet. Sennett said these are larger than residential-grade turbines but much smaller than utility-grade turbines like those used in rural areas.

Sennett said he believes CityBus is the first transit system in the United States using renewable wind energy to power its facilities. He said many transit systems, including CityBus, are taking measures to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by using hybrid buses. Yet most transit systems still purchase energy from providers that produce it from fossil fuels.

CityBus’s project is a leading demonstration of the possibility to have facilities powered entirely by a renewable source, produced on site.

The results will be known only with time and experience, said Sennett. “We’ll begin to know how much energy and carbon emissions we are saving after a full year of use.”

CityBus operates a fleet of 70 buses, including 15 hybrid buses, with three new hybrids coming online this summer.

CityBus route information is available at www.gocitybus.com or 742-RIDE. The mission of CityBus is to be a proactive community partner, striving to improve the community’s quality of life by operating safe, reliable and environmentally friendly transit services, by partnering in local economic development and sustainable development activities, and by providing excellent customer service and efficient, convenient access to destinations throughout Lafayette and West Lafayette.

Cascade Renewable Energy manufactures, markets, and distributes renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions tailored for residential, community, and commercial needs. Cascade Renewable Energy is a preferred partner of Northern Power Systems, manufacturer of the Northern Power 100 wind turbine. Cascade Renewable Energy is part of a family owned company in business since 1973. The Cascade Engineering Family of Companies is a global company employing more than 1,000 individuals across 14 businesses. Their world-class engineering, technology, and manufacturing allows Cascade to provide leading-edge solutions, while maintaining a strong commitment to lean manufacturing and environmental stewardship.

Cascade Engineering has been instrumental in developing new products for brands such as Herman Miller, Kohler, Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, and more. The Cascade Renewable Energy division was born of this innovative spirit and has become a distributor and system integrator supplying both the wind and solar photovoltaic industries, supported by a dedicated engineering staff. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.cascaderenewableenergy.com.