July has been a good month for wind. This past week, utility officials in Texas gave preliminary approval to a $4.9 billion plan to build new transmission lines to carry wind-generated power from West Texas to urban areas such as Dallas, San Antonio and Houston. Texas is already the U.S. leader in wind power, generating about 5,000 megawatts. The plan would not directly build new turbines, but would add transmission lines capable of moving about 18,000 megawatts, enough to power more than 4 million Texas homes.
On July 8, billionaire oilman T. Boone Pickens outlined his plan to help the United States become more energy independent. Pickens suggested that private industry should install thousands of wind turbines in the wind belt (the U.S. Midwest). These wind turbines would eventually generate 20 percent or more of the United States’ electricity supply. Pickens also suggested that transmission lines be built, again funded by the private sector, to connect those wind generating sites with power plants linked to the population centers in the Midwest, South and Western regions of the country. Pickens is putting his own money behind the plan, already signing on to build a $2 billion wind farm in the Texas panhandle.
It is exciting to see such positive renewable energy activity. In the lodging industry, a number of companies have made the commitment to support wind power development through the purchase of renewable energy credits. However, very few have actually purchased wind turbines to generate a portion of the electricity they need. It is understandable given the cost, but in some states significant chunks of money are available to offset the initial investment.
Lodging Industry Wind Power Examples
I have been keeping track of some of the hotels and resorts that have installed or have plans to install wind turbines. Here is that list. If you are aware of any others, please let me know.
• The Inn at Hickory Run in White Haven, Pa., is getting closer to its goal of erecting a 6.6-kilowatt wind turbine. Construction is expected to begin within the next two weeks.
• A 10-kilowatt wind turbine at the McKenna’s Inn Bed and Breakfast in Catawba Island Township, Ohio, is now up and running.
• Jiminy Peak, a ski resort in Hancock, Mass., has a 1.5-megawatt wind turbine.
• A wind generator at the Las Manos Bed & Breakfast in Buena Vista, Colo., generates one kilowatt of power.
• At the Paradise Bay Resort & Spa in La Tante, St. David’s, Grenada, a 100-foot-high windmill will generate 80 kilowatts of power—150 percent of what the resort needs.
• Green Mill Village, slated to open in the fall of 2009 near Arcola, Ill., will be partially powered by wind power.
• The InterContinental Hotels Group unveiled its futuristic Innovation Hotel in April. The press release stated that there would be “wind power to generate electricity for the hotel.”
• The proposed 1,300-room hotel for the Destiny USA project in Syracuse, N.Y., will include small wind turbines that will be incorporated into the hotel structure.
With electricity rates skyrocketing, now is the time to at least investigate the feasibility of wind power. Be sure to check with your state and local utilities to learn whether or not funding is available to defray its costs.
GLN Adds Roebic, Pacific Hospitality Design as Directory Partners
Green Lodging News welcomes Roebic Laboratories and Pacific Hospitality Design as Green Product & Service Directory partners. Roebic Laboratories manufactures a full line of natural cleaners and treatments for drains, grease traps and plumbing. Roebic products contain patented bacterial cultures that produce powerful enzymes to eliminate fat, grease, oil and soap without using toxic chemicals. Roebic’s products help meet environmental standards. For additional information, call (203) 795-1283, e-mail lgifford@roebic.com, or go to www.roebic.com.
Pacific Hospitality Design manufactures quality custom furniture and furnishings for the hospitality and high end residential industries. Pacific Hospitality Design has made a long term commitment toward sustainable manufacturing in seating and case goods. Products are manufactured in various species of kiln-dried Forest Stewardship Council lumber. The company also offers kirei board and kirei bamboo for exposed areas as an optional design element. Other components include: foam which is a 100 percent recycled rebound material, upholstery covered in 100 percent recycled polyester fabrics, and exposed woods finished with water-based low-VOC stains. For additional information, call (323) 278-7999, e-mail anamartinez@phdesign.com, or go to www.phdesign.com.
As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
