WINDHAM — The hope is to have a wind turbine spinning on the grounds of Windham High School when it opens in August.
The reality is that the turbine's August opening is an aggressive schedule, according to Alan Carpenter. He is a member of the Windham Initiative for Renewable Energy, chartered earlier this year to plan for, and seek, donations for the turbine.
"It is a hope dependent upon many things," Carpenter said.
Those things include a consultant's report on what size turbine is suitable for the site and how much money is raised, he said.
The cost of the turbine could range from $25,000 to $500,000, depending on its size, he said.
Fundraising is expected to get underway next week with the School Board's approval of the plan. This week, the WIRE group opened its Web site, http://wire-nh.org.
Regarding the turbine itself, Carpenter would prefer to wait, if necessary, and build a bigger one, if the site can support it. The bigger the turbine, the more clean energy it would generate, reducing the school's carbon footprint.
"We want to build the largest wind turbine we can that will spin more often than not," he said.
Carpenter and others also see the turbine as a tool to boost students' technical and environmental understanding.
Already, the initiative is forging relationships with colleges. The furthest along of those relationships is a planned partnership with Plymouth State University's meteorology program, in which college professors will share information on meteorological practices and research.
Carpenter said the turbine also has great potential as a symbol.
"We want the wind turbine to be a symbol, reflective of what we are trying to achieve at the school, to graduate students who are prepared for college academically and socially," he said.
The turbine will remind students of their responsibility to the town and the planet, he said.
David Hutchings, the 13-year-old who got the turbine idea turning last year, agrees. He remains four-square behind the idea.
David is being home-schooled now, but he plans to attend the new high school when it opens.
David and others also would like to see solar panels at the school.
Having two renewable sources would broaden the opportunity to generate power, with the turbine turning on overcast, windy days, and panels soaking up solar energy on bright, still days.
"They complement each other," he said.
