Hawaii Startup Maui Energy Acquired

An alternative energy startup in Hawaii that specializes in residential wind energy has been purchased. Here's the story from the Honolulu Star Bulletin.

Maui Energy announced recently that it has agreed to be acquired by Colorado based Vista International Inc. Vista, which specializes in converting waste to energy, sees Maui Energy as a way to gain traction in the local renewable energy market. Maui Energy Company is the authorized Southwest Wind Power Distributor in Hawaii and seems to be positioned well in a state where residential wind energy has huge potential.

There are 3 reasons why residential wind should work in Hawaii: the cost of energy is high, the wind speeds are high and the local government is very supportive of green initiatives. Hawaii offers an income tax credit allowing individuals and corporations a credit of 20 percent of the cost of equipment and assembly of a residential or non-residential wind energy system to be applied in the year the system was purchased and placed in operation. Southwest claims that it's Skystream 3.7 residential wind turbine can pay for itself in less that 4 years in this environment.

The only stumbling block for small wind in Hawaii may be in the permits required, but this is something that Caires has been working on. He expects that the permits will go through and the installations of the residential wind turbines will begin on Maui sometime in the next few months. Expansion to neighbor islands will follow.

"The small-scale wind turbine systems going to accelerate in the market here in Hawaii," he said. "The market has not been penetrated."

Related links:
Hawaii Wind Maps
Small Wind in Hawaii

Interested in residential wind power? Considered building your own turbine?
You can get started with today with Power4Home.

Residential Wind Power Iowa

Here's a success story for residential wind power in Iowa from the Forest City Summit and Britt News. The residence being profiled here is owned by Skip Miller and his family who actually live in a rural farm setting. There are three residential wind turbines making up a small wind farm that powers two homes, a small business and a farm. The article is very detailed touching on the history of the wind farm, the history of windmills and the wind power industry in the State of Iowa.

From the article:

Iowa is the 10th windiest state in the nation, but due to increases in the number of wind farms and turbines in the state in the last 10 years - most recently, in the completion of 257 turbines in Buena Vista and Cherokee counties and 56 in Cerro Gordo County, and in the pending approval of another 100 kilowatt farm in Hancock County - Iowa is now the third largest producer of electricity from wind in the country, behind California and Minnesota, says the DOE.

According to the Legislative Services Agency, Iowa currently has more than 400 wind turbines with a total capacity of 423 megawatts. Iowa also has the potential to produce four to eight times its own annual electrical consumption using wind power.

The article may prove to be inspiring for those of you in Iowa considering wind power for your home or farm.

Interested in residential wind power? Considered building your own turbine?
You can get started with today with Power4Home.