Moorhead Public Service

Capturing the Wind

Moorhead Public Service (MPS), a utility company located in Moorhead, Minnesota hoped to attract 425 subscribers for its Capture the Wind™ program. Launched during Earth Week in April 1999, it took just 12 days to reach their goal. The phenomenal success of the program led to the 750-kilowatt Vestas™ wind turbine on the northeast edge of town. The turbine, now a local landmark, can be seen from the city as it turns on the horizon.

Because of the success of the green-pricing program, the utility was left with a waiting list of about 100 customers for the next installment. In late 2000, Moorhead launched its "Help Moorhead Capture Its Second Wind" campaign and in less than one month the utility had already gained enough support to build its second turbine. According to Chris Reed, director of energy services and marketing for MPS, "The utility hardly had to do any marketing at all to get enough new customers to finance the project." Ken Norman, the president of MPS Commission, says, "To get such quick and enthusiastic support from the customers of MPS the second time around shows that the people of Moorhead are eager to increase their efforts to bring more renewable energy to our community."

Customer Success

In so doing, the Capture the Wind™ members have helped MPS become ranked first nationally by National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for customer participation rates. The more than 7% of customers subscribed to the program is the highest anywhere in the country.

The Capture the Wind™ program is also ranked nationally by NREL for its low rates. Residential participants agree to buy either all or 1,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) per month of their electricity from wind generation and agree to pay a half penny more per kWh to finance the cost. For a typical Moorhead resident with 1,000 kWh of energy consumption per month, the program adds $5 to the resident's utility bill.

For that $5, the participant reduces 8,800 pounds of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, from being emitted into the atmosphere. Moorhead currently gets two-thirds of its electricity from hydro power and one-third from a coal-fired power plant. The wind power will displace coal generation for participating customers. "That is equivalent to planting 1.2 acres of trees, or removing a car from the road each year," explained Chris Reed.

Clean Energy Source

"Wind power is renewable and affordable," said Bill Schwandt, MPS general manager. "Wind turns the turbine rotators that spin the generator that makes electricity. No need to mine, burn, or dispose of anything."

Commercial customers may also participate in the voluntary program. They agree to buy blocks of 1,500 kWh of wind energy per month. The average commercial customer will pay about $7.50 per month for energy by participating. Nearby Moorhead State University is among the major commercial customers to the initiative.

The turbine itself is massive. The blades came into town on three separate semi's and the tower looms over the town at 180 feet. The large turbine blades rotate at a relatively low speed of 28 revolutions per minute, reducing the risk to birds being injured by the blades often associated with earlier turbine designs. Older technologies had fast-spinning, down-wind blades and a lattice turbine structure that contributed to bird casualties. Newer turbines, like the Vestas™ turbines Moorhead uses, are much safer for birds and are often erected after consulting with ornithologists on flight patterns.

Economical and Environmental Benefits

The wind energy program is not the only environmentally friendly program offered by MPS. More than 50 Moorhead businesses and organizations have lightened their energy bills by participating in the Lighten Up/Energy Efficient Lighting Program. Through that program Moorhead businesses save more than 4 million kWh of electricity annually, reduce peak demand by 1,100 kWh, and reduce emissions by 27 tons of sulfur dioxide, 11 tons of nitrogen oxide, and 3,205 tons of carbon dioxide. That is the equivalent of planting 864 acres of trees and removing 641 cars from the road.