Dec 24 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Quay County Sun, Tucumcari, N.M.

Mesalands Community College's wind turbine is now producing power that's being added to the area's electrical grid.

The 1.5 megawatt GE turbine is totally assembled and was commissioned last week, according to a press release from the college.

GE, manufacturer of the turbine, had been testing and fine tuning the turbine's computer controls for several weeks for the commissioning, officials had said.

The turbine will produce enough electricity to supply 400 homes for a year, according to the release.

The turbine is expected to help MCC offset its energy costs. Projected cost savings were not available. College officials could not be reached for comment because of the holiday.

However, the turbine's main purpose is for the North American Wind Research and Training Center where students, prospective technicians in wind energy will have hands-on training and observe the electrical, hydraulic, electronic, and mechanical systems of a turbine tower.

"Although the turbine will be generating electricity most of the time, we will stop it if we must to teach a concept or technique that is important for the students to learn," said Mesalands' Wind Energy Technology Instructor Tracy Rascoe in the release.

Now, MCC can officially claim to have the "tallest classroom in the world," the release said.

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