Photo credit: Northern Power Systems/PIX16730

The City of Medford, Massachusetts owns a Northern Power Systems Northwind 100 wind turbine sited at McGlynn Elementary & Middle School.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Wind for Schools 

program is designed to raise awareness about the benefits of 

wind energy while simultaneously developing a wind energy 

knowledge base in future leaders of our communities, states, 

and nation. To accommodate the many stakeholders who are 

interested in the program, a Wind for Schools affiliate program 

has been implemented. Individual K-12 schools or states that 

join the affiliate program will not receive financial support from 

DOE and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), 

but they will receive access to technical assistance, program 

Web sites, and information. The program is designed to 

support schools that wish to implement wind-related educational curricula and install a Wind for Schools wind turbine 

system or states that intend to implement a statewide program.

In both cases, a key element of the program is to install small 

wind turbines at K-12 schools to be used in combination with 

age-appropriate, hands-on, wind-related curricula taught in 

science classes. The standard Wind for Schools system is 

further described in the Wind for Schools Project Power System 

Brief (available at www.nrel.gov/docs/fy09osti/45685.pdf),but 

the system can include other turbines if appropriate. StateWind for Schools Affiliate Programs

based programs would support the implementation of 

a Wind Applications Center (WAC) at a local engineering 

university or college to lead efforts to implement Wind for 

Schools systems at multiple state K-12 schools. 

The two affiliate programs are described in detail below.

Individual K-12 Wind for Schools 

Affiliate Program

The K-12 Wind for Schools affiliate program is designed to 

support the implementation of an education program at a K-12 

school with staff interested in incorporating wind energy into 

existing educational programs.

Program Support

Although the DOE’s Wind for Schools program will not 

provide monetary support to an affiliate K-12 program, it will 

provide support in other areas. As a Wind for Schools K-12 

affiliate, a school’s staff will gain access to:

•	 Project implementation documents, including interconnection

specifications and foundation information

WIND AND HYDROPOWER TECHNOLOGIES 

PROGRAM

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2 WIND AND HYDROPOWER TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM

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•	 Hardware and software developed for the Wind for Schools

system at costs equivalent to those paid by other Wind for 

Schools host schools

•	 Limited technical assistance during the implementation of

the Wind for Schools system

•	 Program-sponsored teacher-training programs

•	 The Wind for Schools host schools’ system database to

support expanded educational opportunities

•	 The Wind for Schools environmental benefit sales process to

allow the affiliate school to obtain outside funding to support 

the system implementation 

•	 The National Energy Education Development (NEED)

Project’s curricula kits on a short-term loan basis to enable 

schools to complete the full NEED curricula model (as 

available).

Program Expectations

The Wind for Schools program team expects that a school or 

school system interested in joining the affiliate program would 

engage in the following tasks:

• Incorporate the NEED Project’s wind curricula into science

classes

• Install a Skystream (or equivalent) wind turbine at the school

and utilize specific hardware (approved as appropriate for any 

state incentives) 

• Install a compatible data logger and make the data from the

wind turbine available on the Wind for Schools Web site so 

that other schools can access it for educational purposes

• Obtain all necessary funding to implement the project (the

Wind for Schools program will offer some support in 

obtaining funds)

• Assume responsibility for all turbine maintenance and engage

with all relevant organizations (such as the local utility or 

energy cooperative) that would support maintenance

• Conduct education and outreach to the local community

• Report on installation(s) and share data pertaining to system

costs. 

If a school is unable to install a Wind for Schools system due 

to a lack of available land, permitting, or wind resource, the 

school may become an affiliate if staff members are interested 

in implementing the NEED Project’s wind curricula and using 

data from other Wind for Schools system installations. 

Expected Costs

An individual system, excluding staff time to cover the 

development costs, is approximately $20,000 (this includes the 

turbine, tower, control package, and curricula). Operational 

funding for the system is not expected to be significant and 

would likely involve an annual inspection and the potential for 

minor service-related issues. The Wind for Schools program 

can assist in identifying funding sources but will not provide 

direct funding.

Application Process

School staff members interested in becoming a Wind for 

Schools K-12 affiliate should contact Ian Baring-Gould at 

(303) 384-7021 or ian.baring-gould@nrel.gov.

Statewide Wind for Schools 

Auxiliary Program

The statewide auxiliary program is designed to mirror the 

current Wind for Schools activities in other states. This 

includes implementing a WAC at a state-based university, 

creating a state facilitator position (if needed), and funding 

related program elements. The program goals would reflect 

those of the existing Wind for Schools program, including:

•	 Educating future wind applications personnel at universities

•	 Installing Wind for Schools systems at approximately five

host K-12 schools per year

•	 Engaging with communities to convey the benefits and

discuss the issues related to an expanded wind energy 

application.

Photo credit: Andy Swapp/PIX14994

A Skystream wind turbine at Milford Elementary School in 

Milford, Utah.
WIND AND HYDROPOWER TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM 3

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Program Support

By agreeing to establish a state-based Wind for Schools 

auxiliary program, a state program will gain access to a broad 

array of support services, including: 

•	 Project implementation documents, including interconnection

specifications and foundation information

•	 National program-produced Wind for Schools publications

•	 Benefits of lessons learned by other states that have already

implemented the program 

•	 Hardware and software developed for the Wind for Schools

system at costs equivalent to those charged to other Wind 

for Schools programs

•	 Limited technical assistance during the implementation of

the Wind for Schools systems

•	 Program-sponsored meetings, training programs, and

informational summits

•	 The Wind for Schools system database to support expanded

educational opportunities

•	 The Wind for Schools environmental benefit sales process to

allow the affiliate school to obtain outside funding to support 

the system implementation.

Program Expectations 

A comprehensive, state-based Wind for Schools auxiliary 

program will be expected to:

• Provide funding and operational support to install a Wind

for Schools system at the WAC to facilitate training and 

educational opportunities for WAC students at a college 

or university 

• Identify funding for a state facilitator to work with the

WAC and K-12 host schools on project implementation and 

integrate the state participants into the national Wind for 

Schools program

• Obtain all funding necessary to implement the program

(some support for this process will be available through the 

national program on a case-by-case basis)

• Perform or promote education and outreach to local

communities

• Purchase wind assessment/measurement systems to support

resource assessments at schools (these systems are typically 

provided to the WAC and also provide an educational 

opportunity for students at the university or associated 

community colleges)

• Implement NEED-based teacher-training program(s)

• Purchase NEED curriculum kits for loan to K-12 host

schools (typically through the WAC)

• Report installations and share data on system costs

• Attend national Wind for Schools summits and other related

meetings

• Provide partial funding or support for wind equipment at

host schools

• Ensure that each host school activity meets the requirements

as defined above for individual K-12 school programs.

Expected Costs

A fully comprehensive Wind for Schools state program 

including WAC, state facilitator, and initial equipment funding 

is approximately $175,000 per year for 3 years. 

This assumes that a small amount of the state funding, 

such as $8,000 to $10,000 per host school, will be applied to 

wind turbine hardware. Typical funding would include:

Wind Application Center: $60,000 / year

State facilitator: $30,000 / year

Host school system funding:	 $50,000 / year

(assumes ~five 

systems per year)

State-based project oversight $10,000 / year

Meteorological towers $25,000 (first year)

Wind for Schools teacher training $25,000 (second and 

third years)

Photo credit: Judi SiglerPIX16254

Installing a Wind for Schools system at the WAC facilitates training 

and educational opportunities for WAC students at a college or 

university. 
www.windpoweringamerica.gov

U.S. Department of Energy

EERE Information Center

1-877-EERE-INF (1-877-337-3463)

www.eere.energy.gov/informationcenter 

Printed with a renewable-source ink on paper containing at least 50% wastepaper, including 10% post consumer waste.

Prepared by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC

DOE/GO-102009-2833 • December 2009

4 WIND AND HYDROPOWER TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM

Two 100-kW wind turbines, installed and operated by NexGen Energy Partners, provide on-site electricity generation for Upper Scioto Valley 

School in McGuffey, Ohio. Besides offsetting 20% of the school’s energy bill, the turbines bring wind energy to life for students.

Application Process

Any state organization interested in hosting a Wind for Schools 

K-12 affiliate activity should contact Ian Baring-Gould at (303) 

384-7021 or ian.baring-gould@nrel.gov.

Wind for Schools Equivalent Wind Systems

The Wind for Schools program has identified Southwest 

Windpower’s Skystream 3.7 wind turbine as the primary 

turbine to be implemented at host K-12 schools. This turbine 

system was selected based on the following attributes:

•	 Manageable size (the nameplate power capacity of 2.4 kW is

small enough to avoid a net-metering conflict with the local 

utility or power cooperative and to allow installation using 

local resources)

•	 Primary AC power production (ensures simple

interconnection with a school’s electrical systems)

•	 Guyed lattice and monopole tower options at multiple

heights to ease installation

•	 Integrated data acquisition with Web-based monitoring

capabilities

•	 Manageable total system cost that includes significant turbine

price discounts from the manufacturer

•	 Proven company track record with a commitment to expand

support for school-based wind systems and a nationwide 

support infrastructure to allow long-term installation, 

warrantee, and maintenance support.

Other turbine technologies and sizes would be applicable, but 

they should be selected for their ability to meet the basic 

requirements listed above and to provide performance data for 

other Wind for Schools partners.

Photo credit: NexGen Energy Partners, LLC/PIX16741