Wind Monitoring Equipment Installation

Wind development in Kansas has been chased at for many years. In 2002, PCED started focusing on ways to enhance our chances as a county to be more seriously looked at by wind developers. After holding a public meeting with an attendance around 100 residents of the region in the spring of 2003, it was apparent to the direction that there was a positive atmosphere to pursue such development from area residents. Many factors, such as federal legislation, delayed interest by developers for new, large construction in the State of Kansas over through 2003 – 2005. In August 2004, two grants were written to both the Morgan Foundation and Cole Foundation for funding to purchase wind monitoring equipment to track wind speeds in order to have proof of consistent prevailing wind in the area. These grants were received and the placement of this equipment was installed. Tower #1 is owned by KKAN/KQMA and is located 10 miles south of Phillipsburg. The equipment for tower #1 was installed and became operational on November 2004. Tower # 2, owned by Nex-tech, is located 1 mile north of the east side of Phillipsburg. This equipment was installed on January 20, 2005. Wind data from these two sites show profor wind development and encourage developers on Phillips County’s pro-active nature in this area, when we can p

The need for monitoring the winds at these two sites area imperative for selling the northern part of Kansas, and our area for wind development. Although, there is much information on the surface winds across Kansas, there is very little collected data on the prevailing winds, which is 200 feet or higher. Since wind turbines for any of the new wind farm developments are 250 to 300 feet, and use the prevailing winds, any factual data history of the prevailing wind is important.