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small wind Success StoriesCase Studies Lawsiuts can not Stop Small Wind Turbine in New Mexico Sante Fe, NM – Tom and Ieva Wright had a dream. They wanted their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, to be a model of architectural integrity and energy sustainability. Tom hoped to construct a striking geodesic dome for their home, while Ieva pursued alternative energy options. The Wrights decided to remain off the grid and rely upon the wind and sun – as well as a back-up propane-fired generator – to generate their electricity. Three years ago they installed a 900-watt Southwest Windpower Whisper H 900 turbine on top of a 45-foot tower, along with two solar photovoltaic (PV) systems totaling 48 volts. Together, the wind and solar systems provide about 90 percent of the Wrights’ electricity. “All we wanted to do was tap the resources that are most abundant around here, the sun and the wind,” says Tom. “We sit on the top of a bluff, so we get a decent wind.” Unfortunately, the Wrights’ neighbors sued them after they installed their small wind turbine, even though the installation complied with siting parameters established by Santa Fe County. The Wrights won their case before the County Board of Land Usage, but three disgruntled neighbors pursued the case further up to the state level. The lawsuit was settled through mediation. “It’s really a drag,” laments Tom. “People like us who live on 20 to 40 acres of land are not allowed to do what we want. I guess the geodesic dome and wind turbine were just too weird. We like the fact that we can rely upon alternative energy sources, but this experience sure has been an adventure.” Combined, the Wrights’ PV and small wind systems were costly – totaling more than $30,000. Unlike other states, New Mexico does not offer significant financial incentives to reduce the costs of residential renewable energy systems. However, a new net metering law may induce them to connect to the utility grid to capture some additional value from their hybrid wind/solar systems, which generate more electricity than the Wrights can use in the spring and summer. “I’m at a point in my life where I think a lot about how we can no longer take away from our environment,” says Ieva. The couple says choosing the path to sustainability was worth the headaches. Ieva is particularly fond of her small wind turbine. “It is so, so quiet,” she says. “And sometimes you can’t even see it.”
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