785-243-1435
Geary County campus
631 Caroline Avenue
Junction City, KS 66441
785-238-8010
FOR RELEASE
Jan. 13, 2008
Contact: Richard Underbakke, (800) 729-5101, ext. 201 or (785) 243-4715
Cloud County Community College
gets federal money for campus wind turbine
(CONCORDIA, KS) – A $1 million federal appropriation has been awarded to Cloud County Community College to support construction of a wind turbine near the college’s Concordia campus.
The appropriation was included in the federal Energy and Water Development and the Commerce, Justice and Science bills, according to U. S. Senator Sam Brownback who supported Cloud’s request.
Sen. Brownback said the wind turbine will provide critical services for the residents of Kansas and help decrease the nation’s dependence on foreign oil.
CCCC President Dr. Richard Underbakke announced the federal support.
“Our college’s objective is to be a leader in the renewable energy movement in Kansas,” Dr. Underbakke said. “This appropriation is a major boost toward accomplishing our goal.”
The college intends to erect a one to two-megawatt wind turbine for educational training and promotion of wind energy throughout the state and provide energy to power the Concordia campus.
(more)
Cloud County Community College and Wind Turbine (page 2)
“The connectivity and operation of this turbine will serve as a model for the community wind movement in Kansas, “ the CCCC president said. “Additionally, it can become a prototype for the movement to power state buildings with renewable energy.”
Cloud County Community College, in partnership with Manhattan Area Technical College (MATC), is the only college in Kansas approved to offer an Associate of Applied Science in Wind Energy Technology. The program will produce a qualified workforce to serve the emerging wind industry throughout Kansas and the Midwest. Graduates of the program will possess the necessary skills for industry careers related to the production and utilization of wind energy.
“A number of companies have expressed interest in working with Cloud on the wind turbine project,” Dr. Underbakke said. “These partnerships will strengthen our wind energy technology program and expand the scope of the project.”
The CCCC president said the college will work with Horizon Wind Energy on this project. Horizon has provided generous in-kind support for the college’s previous grant applications related to wind projects. Horizon Energy is developing a large commercial wind energy farm within 10 miles of the Concordia campus.
“The Horizon project ideally positions Kansas to effectively market utility scale and community-based wind projects,” Dr. Underbakke said.
Other benefits of Cloud’s wind turbine project include making Kansas a national player in the effort to increase renewable energy, promoting state use of renewable energies, and providing opportunities to market the feasibility of wind and other renewable energies.
The new turbine will establish a prototype community wind farm other Kansas communities may follow. The project also supports the “Kansas Energy Plan” goal to develop 1,000 megawatts of wind-powered generation in Kansas by 2015.
Bruce Graham is the college’s wind energy technology instructor. Assisting in the federal application were CCCC Instructor Kim Muff, Vice President of Academic Affairs Kim Krull and Vice President of Administrative Services Bob Maxson.
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