Oct 30 - McClatchy-Tribune Business News Formerly Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News - Matt Woronko Columbia Chronicle, Chicago

>While traditional energy sources like nuclear, coal and petroleum still power U.S. cities, alternative energy is seeping in as a potential replacement. A move by the Village of Northbrook and a plan from Gov. Rod Blagojevich has opened a spot for one renewable energy source: wind power.

Last month, the Village, with a population of 33,000, became one of the first U.S. cities to purchase enough wind energy to run its water facility. The city now consumes 4,500 megawatts of power to run its water plant, up from 155 megawatts the previous year.

Jim Reynolds, director of Public Works in Northbrook, recommended switching to wind power from conventional energy to the Northbrook Board of Trustees and was given permission to pursue it. The most notable change is that Northbrook residents now pay an average of $4 to $5 more per year for water.

"We are paying a premium for wind energy," Reynolds said. "It uses 1.65 cents more per kilowatt hour. It costs a lot of money for investors to install the turbines, rent the land, build the feeder to the grid, etc."

He said it would cost about 3.5 cents per 1,000 gallons, or $4 to $5 for the average customer.

Reynolds said wind turbines work by generating electricity and then storing it in a grid. Northbrook then buys electricity from that grid, which means that other industrial facilities, like coal plants, don't have to burn anything.

"The [wind] plant has made us the first in the state to fully power a water facility," Marks said. "It's equivalent to 783 cars off the road, 1.9 million pounds of coal not being burned and 400,000 trees being saved [a year]."

Wind power works by using blades that move when wind rushes through them. The blades then spin a shaft, which connects to a generator to make electricity.

Wind power is still new to the United States, though cities such as Seattle, Madison and Denver have used wind power plans similar to Northbrook. Each city's plan cost consumers anywhere from an extra $4 to $12 each year on their electric bills.

"To the best of my knowledge, the system is the same [as other cities using wind power]," Reynolds said. "The location may be different. Our wind generators are located about 100 miles or so from here."

Reynolds said the turbines Northbrook uses are located near Princeton, 128 miles away from Northbrook. In addition to Illinois, Wisconsin, Colorado and Washington also offer wind power to residents.

However, national critics of wind turbines, like the Bat Conservation International, say they kill bats and birds by destroying habitats and colliding with birds. Village President Gene Marks said that there has been no backlash for Northbrook.

"I didn't think we'd see much," Marks said. "I think a few cities on the West Coast had some people complain about birds flying into them, but nobody here has complained."

Marks said that Northbrook buys energy credits from a company downstate and that a very minor portion of the water plant used wind power before Reynolds spoke with the board of trustees.

Reynolds said he didn't see a lot of change happening at the federal level which motivated him to push for wind power.

Northbrook has had several environmental plans before, like passing the Tree Preservation Ordinance in 1999, said Reynolds. The ordinance protects all trees that are six inches in diameter at the breast point, the point on a tree that is 1.37 meters high.

Northbrook has started using more electric cars within their city departments, Marks said. He added that the city is considering installing green roofs similar to Chicago.

Chicago has plans to use wind power as well. Mike Johnson, project coordinator for the city's Department of the Environment, said four smaller versions of wind turbines will be put on the four corners of the roof of the Daley Center.

"The plan is to have the turbines bolted to the corners of the penthouses on the top before the end of the year," Johnson said.

Johnson said the city is looking into the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave., as another location where wind turbines could be located. The turbines are going to be five feet in diameter and 10 feet high, with protective mesh around the top of the turbines to prevent bird mortalities.

"We've engaged the Bird Conservation Network as well, so we feel like we've demonstrated the design is safe," Johnson said.

The turbines on top of the Daley Center could also help the city find a place in the alternative energy game. Demand from city residents would be vital to the growth of renewable energy, Johnson said.

"The governor has required that 8 percent of electricity sold in the state come from renewable resources too," Johnson said. "But, if there's no demand, then there's no growth."

Marks said Northbrook is even considering getting a windmill with a few other neighboring towns, like Buffalo Grove and Arlington Heights, but nothing is official yet.

Reynolds and Marks are optimistic about the future. Marks said that he hopes other cities will follow Northbrook's lead, while Reynolds said having wind turbines helps complete the puzzle.

"Not only do the turbines reduce petroleum products, but it's one more piece of the puzzle to help protect our fragile Earth," Reynolds said.