Abstract Methods Results

Wind for Schools

E. Ian Baring-Gould, Larry Flowers, & Marguerite Kelly

National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colorado, USA

As the United States 

dramatically expands wind Curricula Development

The Wind for Schools project addresses educational concerns by engaging with and fostering 

relationships between universities and K-12 schools and recognizing the mutual benefits gained 

as university students learn not only through classroom instruction but also by participating as 

“consultants in training” on projects that involve analysis, planning, design, and implementation of 

small wind systems. Likewise, the relationships between university and K-12 schools provide 

young students and their teachers the opportunity to mine university resources for ideas and 

assistance and to apply context to principles of mathematics, science, and other applicable 

subjects. Activities include:

• Develop and implement standards-based curricula at the K-12 level using hands-on 

methodologies

• Work with the NEED Project, WindWise, Kidwind, and Wind for Educators (all leaders in K-12

energy deployment, the industry 

is challenged with developing a 

skilled workforce and addressing 

public resistance. Wind 

Powering America’s Wind for 

Schools project addresses these 

issues by: 

• Developing Wind Application 

Centers (WACs) at 

universities; WAC students 

assist in implementing school 

wind turbines and participate Work with the NEED Project, WindWise, Kidwind, and Wind for Educators (all leaders in K 12

wind education) 

• Focus on bringing the turbine into the classroom.

wind turbines and participate

in wind courses 

• Installing small wind turbines 

at community “host” schools

• Implementing teacher training 

with interactive curricula at 

each host school.

Students at Idaho’s Pocatello Community Charter School 

participated in a Wind for Schools project. PIX16749/Billie 

Johnson.

Obj ti

This poster provides an overview of the first two years of the Wind for Schools project, primarily 

supporting activities in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Montana, and Idaho.

Data Capture and Analysis

The project brings together wind installations and data 

acquisition technologies that allow schools and educators to 

collect electricity production and weather data to use in 

research, analysis, and expanded class curricula. The data 

from the wind turbine will be stored and made available so 

that schools can access their own turbine data from any 

Web-connected computer and other schools can access it for 

educational purposes. 

The Wind for Schools project goals are to:

• Equip college juniors and seniors with an education in wind energy applications

• Engage America communities in wind energy applications, benefits, and challenges

• Introduce teachers and students to wind energy.

The Wind for Schools project focuses on K-12 and university educators and students, 

understanding that developing a national workforce for a relatively new technology requires 

an approach that considers the whole educational system while countering the trend of 

reduced numbers of U.S. students entering science fields. Studies indicate that if women and 

minority students are not interested in math by the 6th grade they are unlikely to pursue math

Objectives

Affiliate Program

To accommodate the many stakeholders 

who are interested in the Wind for 

Schools concept but do not participate in 

the official project, a Wind for Schools 

affiliate program allows individual K-12 

schools or states to join the network. 

Affiliate organizations will not receive 

p p

This will greatly increase the impact of the turbine installations and allow schools that don’t have 

a viable wind resource to become activity involved in wind energy education.

minority students are not interested in math by the 6th grade, they are unlikely to pursue math

or science-based careers. 

• Active programs in six states 

(Colorado Idaho Kansas Montana

Results

The City of Medford, Massachusetts owns a Northern 

Power Systems Northwind 100 wind turbine sited at 

McGlynn Elementary & Middle School. 

PIX16730/Northern Power Systems.

financial support from DOE and 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.

(Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, 

Nebraska, and South Dakota)

• Five additional states added in 2010 

(Alaska, Arizona, North Carolina, 

Pennsylvania, and Virginia)

• At the university level, more than 60 

students graduated in 2008, more than 

125 students took wind-related classes 

in 2009, and almost 70 students were 

involved in the WACs in 2009

• Turbines installed in 42 schools with 

20 more in progress (March 2010)

• T h eac er-t ii ra n ng programs 

implemented in participating states

• Strong interest in many other states

• Several states and schools interested 

in the affiliate program.

Wind for Schools system installed at Greenbush High 

School, Kansas. PIX16245/Josh Cochran.

More information on the Wind for Schools project: http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/schools_wfs_project.asp

1. Baring-Gould, I.; Flowers, L.; Kelly, M.; Barnett, L.; Miles, J. (2009). Wind for Schools: Developing Education 

Programs to Train the Next Generation of the Wind Energy Workforce. 11 pp.; NREL Report No. CP-500-45473. 

2. Baring-Gould, I. (2009). Wind for Schools: A Wind Powering America Project (Brochure). 8 pp.; NREL Report No. 

BR-500-45684; DOE/GO-102009-2830.

3 Wind for Schools Affiliate Programs: Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program (Fact Sheet) (2009) 4 pp ;

• Build in-state capacity to provide technical assistance for community projects

• Develop college-level wind energy programs, incorporating wind curricula and small 

turbine installations at community schools

References

Methods

The Wind for Schools project works to impact several of the key workforce development segments, 

insuring that a full educational pathway is put in place in states that will play a strong role in America’s 

wind energy future.

The information contained in this poster is subject to a government license | WINDPOWER 2010 | Dallas, Texas | May 23-26, 2010 | NREL/PO-7A2-47973

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.

3. Wind for Schools Affiliate Programs: Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program (Fact Sheet). (2009). 4 pp.;

NREL Report No. FS-7A2-45729; DOE/GO-102009-2833.

y

• Work with the American Wind Energy Association, the NEED Project, and others on K-12 

curricula to incorporate wind energy education into the classroom

• Use a low-cost replicable system for installation at host K-12 schools

• Work collaboratively with communities and local utilities to implement cost-effective and 

community-supported school energy projects

• Provide technical assistance and training to universities by national laboratory staff

• Implement a low-cost data collection system with international accessibility

• Integrate information from a variety of school wind projects. 

Acknowledgements

This work is one activity in the workforce development area supported by the U.S. Department of 

Energy, Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program. Success in the program is also largely 

driven by the professors and students of the Wind Application Centers with the support of the 

state project facilitators. Work on this activity is conducted by staff of the National Renewable 

Energy Laboratory and Idaho National Laboratory.