Wind Turbine to be used as a Teaching Tool at Eastfield College

Found this on Moonlady News

CONTACT:  Amy McDonald, Manager, Public Information and Technical Communication

972-860-7180 phone, 972-860-8324 fax.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 30, 2011

Wind Turbine to be used as a Teaching Tool at Eastfield College

(Mesquite, TX)  On August 27, the latest addition to the Alternative/Sustainable Energy program offered at Eastfield College became a reality with the installation of a 50-foot wind turbine. The 3.5 kw wind turbine will be used for instructional purposes, but the turbine is also tied into the college’s electrical system through a connection in the Technology (T) Building. When the turbine is not being used for instruction the electricity produced will flow back into the Eastfield system and help power the T Building. The turbine is located on the west side of the T Building on the Eastfield campus, at the intersection of the new Dan Sundermann Drive and Eastfield Parkway. 

The design of the turbine tower will enable students to work with the tower, the turbine and the wind blades as the tower is lowered and the turbine is brought to ground level. In addition, the students will be able to see how the system connects with the electrical panel in the T Building, and observe how the electricity generated flows back into the electrical system serving this facility.

The wind turbine was purchased with funds provided by the Texas Legislature through a Texas Comptroller's Office JET (Jobs & Education for Texans) Grant awarded in 2010. The grant award of $147,098 was to enable Eastfield to purchase additional instructional equipment for the Alternative/ Sustainable Energy programs.

The Alternative/Sustainable Energy program features the option of an associate degree or a certificate, both designed to prepare technicians to work in this new and rapidly growing Texas industry. As of August 2010, Eastfield College became one of two community colleges in North Central Texas to offer courses in Alternative/Sustainable Energy. 

For more information contact Chuck Dale at 972-860-7670.

Eastfield College, one of the seven Dallas County Community Colleges, is located at 3737 Motley Drive in Mesquite, just north of I-30.

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Educational opportunities are offered by the Dallas County Community College District without regard to race, color, age, national origin, religion, sex, disability, sexual orientation or genetic information.