New wind turbine cranks out voltage for farm

BURLEY, Idaho — A grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture helped finance the new wind turbine on the farm belonging to LeRoy Jarolimek, who’d like to see more of the prop-driven turbines spinning out voltage.

The Farm Bill of 2002 paid a quarter of the cost of the $40,000 project, marked with a ceremony on Tuesday and attended by federal and state agencies interested in seeing the development of wind generated power in Idaho.

Jarolimek spent the last two years researching, designing and installing the 120-foot tower and 20-kilowatt turbine.

“If we can get one project like this, then we can show it’s possible throughout the state,” Jarolimek said, adding that wind energy is a way to help Idaho’s struggling farms survive.

Research is already under way for an $11 million, 10-megawatt expansion of the wind farm. Jarolimek said he would like to see six additional turbines.

Under a “net-metering” arrangement with Idaho Power Co., power producers are credited for any excess electricity put back into the grid.

Jarolimek’s son, Ronnie, said the turbine has generated about 360 kilowatts of power since being hooked up June 2 despite relatively light winds.

Scott Gates of Idaho Power said three small hydroelectric and 10 solar producers are also taking advantage of the net-metering program. Some have reduced their electric bills, while others receive monthly checks for their power overages, he said.

“The wind resources in the state are actually greater than the hydro resources,” said engineer Brian Jackson of Renaissance Engineering and Design, who worked with Jarolimek on obtaining the federal grants.