Wind is growing as a key element of Vermont's independence. There are fewer regulatory hurdles and more grant money available than in the past. The new "group net-metering" regulations passed by the state will enable a group of people to invest in a large wind-project and have the power generated offset their utility-bills, without everyone having to live next to the wind-turbine.

Attached is a basic view of the return-on-investment for a 100 KW wind-project that would supply between 25 and 100 homes depending on the average wind-speed.

The reasonable upside: if you have an average wind-speed of 13 MPH, a 100KW wind turbine could supply 42 homes with their power needs.

Each of the 42 homes would have to invest around $6000 if the project gets the current maximum state grant for a project this size. If utility-rates are $.18 per kwh over the next 10 years, each home would break even on that investment in less than 10 years and have 15+ years of virtually free electricity.

Globally the wind-market is growing more than 30% per year. Last year the state gave grants and incentives to over 50 small-scale wind projects in Vermont. Most of the sites worthy of the larger systems are on the high ridge-lines and forest-lands, so the large systems are not a simple proposition.

However, the starting point for moving forward is having a sense for the likely return-on-investment. I have validated the attached ROI #s with local wind-industry experts. It all depends on the wind speed and your assumptions about how much our cost per KWH from the grid will be down the road. Wind-power will continue to grow in Vermont, along with biogas/digesters and solar systems.