Big Turbines will NOT do this for you

Individuals take advantage of big incentives for wind turbines
There are more people are putting up windmills in Elkhart County just this month than there were all of last year.
Posted: 6:27 PM Dec 18, 2009
Reporter: Ryan Famuliner
Email Address: ryan.famuliner@wndu.com

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Individuals take advantage of big incentives for wind turbines


The winds are changing in Elkhart County as more and more individuals are turning to wind power.

There are more people are putting up windmills in the county just this month than there were all of last year.

But, it’s still slow growth. Elkhart County says they had 11 requests for permits this year from homeowners wanting to install wind turbines, compared to only two in 2008.

Those that are interested in going green are seeing green, because of some attractive government incentives.

Mahlon Bontrager of Goshen has been interested in wind energy for a couple years now.

“My NIPSCO bill's always so high, and (I’m) trying to look at ways to cut it down… The tax credit and everything, that kind of clinched the deal, all the savings,” Bontrager said.

Through the stimulus plan, people installing small wind turbines can receive a tax credit to cover 30% of the installation cost of a wind turbine, up to $4,000.

That helps make Bontrager’s $16,000 price tag more achievable.

“It cuts it by about 25%, the total cost, so your payback is a little bit quicker,” Bontrager said.

Another big incentive is that in Indiana, you also don't have to pay property taxes on a wind turbine, even though it will likely bring up your property value.

Wind Wire of South Bend is the company installing all three of the turbines approved by the Elkhart County Board of Zoning Appeals this month; including Bontrager's.

“We’ve got probably in the northern Indiana area, 80 to 85 units right now,” said David Smith with Wind Wire.

Not bad for someone who got into this line of work because he'd been laid off.

“My brother was collecting unemployment, my unemployment had run out and we just kind of stumbled on to it, and it's just something that’s made a difference and people were looking for it,” Smith said.

It's kept them very busy, as more people in the area see turbines as a wise investment.

“(It) depends on how much wind you have and how much electricity you use, but if you can knock 25%, 50% off your electric bill; That's gonna add up. Saving money is the same as making money, that's what I always thought,” Bontrager said.

Bontrager is getting his turbine without going completely off the grid. He’ll be able to switch over to grid energy when his turbine's not spinning. When it is, whatever extra energy he doesn't use will be sold back to the power company.

Smith says some of the larger energy companies are cooperating with people installing turbines, while some smaller co-ops are still struggling to find a way to make it work.

Meantime, whether or not an individual is able to install a turbine on their property often depends on how much land they have and where they live. City and county zoning departments can answer questions regarding those ordinances.