November 17, 2008
Weather Station Expansion Planned Wind Study Initiative Underway
In the spring of 2004, Wilson Community College installed its first weather station on Building J with instruments located 50 and 100 feet above ground, this weather station is designed to measure solar capacity, wind speed, temperature, and rainfall. Data gathered through the fall of 2006, showed the possibility that this area may have enough small wind to produce energy using a wind turbine. A consultation with the North Carolina Solar Center wind energy experts was scheduled.
On November 20, 2006, Shawn Fitzpatrick, a renewable energy engineer, and his associate, Beth Mast from the North Carolina Solar Center visited the College to evaluate potential sites for a more detailed wind study. Several sites on campus were selected that offer the highest elevation and the best down drafts. New weather stations will be purchased and installed 100 feet above ground at each chosen location to gather weather data and study wind speed for the next year.
In addition to the wind study, the new weather stations will allow the College to have continuously updated information on the College website, including daily rainfall, temperature, humidity, wind speed, and wind direction. This data will be published live, and historical data will also be kept and made available on the web.
The solar capacity data will continue to be collected by the original weather station to help determine the size and quantity of photovoltaic cells needed to provide solar energy for campus use.
Harnessing wind and utilizing solar energy are two of the many possible alternative energy ideas Wilson Community College intends to demonstrate to its community.
The cost is currently being researched for the new weather stations as well as the possibility of wireless telemetry. Hopefully, a wireless application will cut costs and allow data to be retrieved more easily.
Margie Norfleet, Computer Training Coordinator - Continuing Education March 20, 2007
