GREENVILLE, Ohio, June 14 (UPI) -- Two brothers in Ohio are breaking into a growing industry selling small wind turbines to local landowners.
Steve and Joe Jefferis are the first in the Greenville, Ohio, area to become Skystream backyard wind turbine dealers and they have one in their yard as well, the Dayton Daily News reported.
It costs between $12,000 to $15,000 to install, including a concrete tower base and trench digging. Wind is able to generate up to 80 percent of a home's needs and during periods of high winds, produce more than necessary. Using net-metering, the excess wind turns into dollars paid to the owner by the utility.
The brothers earned a $7.50 credit from Dayton Power & Light during the first month of using their turbine and there are currently three customers in line to buy Skystream turbines, they said. There are 11 small wind turbines connected to the grid within a 24-county service area.
The unit produces power in wind as light as 8 mph and hits its peak with wind speeds of 20 mph with a knock-out speed of 140 mph.
Homeowners and land owners looking to put small turbines on their property are also being encouraged by the American Wind Energy Association.
In February, Gov. Ted Strickland made $5 million in grants available for the Ohio Wind Production and Manufacturing Incentive for larger utility projects. The Residential Renewable Energy Incentive program is available for homeowners. Recipients can get up to 50 percent of the cost, but they must be customers of an investor-owned utility. Low-interest loans are also available.
