Wind: Eye-Catching Alternative Energy on Atlantic Blvd

11/20/2009 6:30 PM
the wind spires can save an average of $12,000 to $15,000 a year.
They cost about $10,000 to install, and can last up to 25 years.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — If you’ve driven down Atlantic Boulevard in the past month, you may have noticed three spinning towers near the intersection of St. Johns Bluff Road. They’re a source of energy rarely seen in Florida. The three wind spires were installed by Frank Erickson of Erickson Energy, after he proposed the energy-saving design to PB Management, which owns the shopping center where the spires are located.

Manufactured by Windspire Energy whose corporate headquarters are located in Reno, Nevada (formerly Mariah Power of Michigan), the spires produce 1.2 kilowatts of energy each, stand about 30 feet high and are powered entirely by wind. The Windspire is manufactured in Michigan through a supply agreement with MasTech Wind.

The installation at the DZ Plaza shopping center is the first installation of this kind of green energy in all of Jacksonville, and Erickson said, maybe all of Florida.

“Florida is not considered a real good wind power state. These only work in certain situations,” said Erickson.
The wide open runway at Craig Airfield across the street makes the area particularly breezy.

Even when power is not being used, the wind blows the spires, and channels it back to JEA, where it is distributed on the greater power grid.

On a JEA bill the size of the one generated at the shopping center, Erickson said, the wind spires can save an average of $12,000 to $15,000 a year. They cost about $10,000 to install, and can last up to 25 years.

Erickson said it’s tough to tell exactly how much an individual consumer will save monthly, because the technology is new and wind speeds fluctuate. He hopes to have a better monthly estimate after the spires have been active for one year.

Erickson energy also installed a 25,000 watt solar power system on the shopping center’s roof.

“Energy has been so cheap for so long that it hasn’t been in the forefront in Florida like it needs to be. This stuff is for the future. Our children and their children,” Erickson said.