Wind turbine is Tybee’s for the taking | savannahnow.com

When Tybee Island council member Paul Wolff learned in August of a 50-kilowatt wind turbine that needed a home, he knew he wanted it for his beach community.

An international corporation had warehoused the turbine after a Wisconsin community to which it had been offered got negative feedback.

Wolff, a champion of environmental innovations on Tybee, wasted no time in approaching the corporation’s representative at the Georgia Environmental Conference on Jekyll Island.

“I said, ‘What are you going to do with it?’” Wolff recalled.

Research and negotiations ensued.

“Two months later he said it would be made available to Tybee if we agree to install it,” Wolff said. “It was the right time, right place. It was just there for the asking.”

Wolff declined to name the donor corporation before it’s more certain Tybee will accept the gift.

Now it’s time to find out whether the city wants it.

The City Council will host a town hall meeting about the wind turbine Monday from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Tybee Island City Hall.

Five-year payback

“Tybee has a rare opportunity to acquire and install what will be the largest wind turbine south of Tennessee,” Wolff said.

The Endurance E-3120 wind turbine sits on a 120-foot monopole with its three blades’ sweep reaching a maximum height of 150 feet. That’s about the same height as the cell tower and water tower on Tybee. The lighthouse is 144 feet tall.

Given the typical wind on Tybee, the turbine would produce enough electricity to power about 20 homes. It’s worth about $300,000.

If Tybee accepts the donated turbine, the city would be responsible for paying the estimated $134,000 transportation and installation costs.

Wolff figures the city could recoup those costs in less than five years.

“It has a 20-year design life and it’s known to exceed that with proper maintenance,” he said. “We’ll net 15 years of free electricity. The net savings over a 20-year life are $390,000 at current electric rates.”