Mary Szoka

Dr. Fergus & Dr. Duke

ENGR-3970
June 15, 2015
Bringing Wind Power to Auburn University
For thousands of years, humans have harnessed the power of the wind for their own use.
Ancient civilizations used the wind to sail as early as 5000 B.C. and to grind grains and pump
water between 900 and 500 B.C. (U.S. Department of Energy). As early as the nineteenth
century, humans thought to apply wind power to produce electricity. In 1888 in Cleveland, Ohio,
the first windmill to generate electricity was built (Sanagerico). As the need for clean energy
escalates, advancement in technology needs to evolve as well. Historically, the U.S. has been the
leader in technology and trend setting for the rest of the world. This is not the case when it comes
to implementation of renewable energies. I believe this needs to change, which can be done by
initiating pilot-programs to research and develop renewable resource technologies. Auburn
University would be a feasible place to administrate a wind power pilot-program.
There are certain concerns to be addressed, as there are always flaws. Wind turbines
require a great sum of money for start-up expenses. A pilot program would require a large
investment, not only with money but also time, as there are many assessments that need to be
made and observations to be taken before a viable turbine could be installed. After all this initial
money and time, it may be determined that Auburn is not an optimum location for wind turbines.
If this turned out to be the case, many would think all the time and money went to waste. Others
think wind turbines are eyesores and wouldnt want them installed to begin with. If Auburn was
found to be a feasible location, land would be needed to place the turbines. The land would then

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be subject to various environmental effects. Bats and birds often dont sense the turbines and can
be injured or killed. Oil is needed for lubrication and often causes spillages onto the surrounding
land. Large turbines cast shadows, are very noisy and can interfere with radio and television
reception. There are also safety issues. Being made of metal, turbines attract lightening and if a
turbine were to fall down or break, people, animals and other surroundings could be harmed
(Saizar).
Although there are many negative environmental effects associated with wind turbines,
eco-designs are being improved and Auburn could help conduce to these improvements. Wind
turbines in action contribute to improved environmental quality and do not add to carbon dioxide
emissions. Renewable energies are vast and inexhaustible and reduce dependency on fossil fuels.
In the USA in 2011, the wind energy industry directly employed 75,000 full-time-equivalent
employees (Saizar). Renewable energies are locally produced and thus generate local jobs and
decrease energy loss through transportation. A wind-energy pilot-program in Auburn would bring
about local jobs and research opportunities. Auburn was just recently recognized as a 2015 U.S.
Department of Education Green Ribbon School, an institution of higher education that reduces
environmental impacts and costs; improves the health and wellness of students and staff; and
provides environmental education that effectively incorporates civic skills, green career pathway
opportunities and the STEM disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics,
(Phillips). If Auburn were to facilitate a wind-power pilot-program, it would further propel
Auburn as a leading sustainable university.
Before installing a turbine, there is much assessment to do. First a wind resource
assessment must be completed, which has many parts. Students from many different majors
could collaborate on this assessment. Twelve months of wind data and wind conditions are

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needed which could be collected by meteorologists, aerospace engineers could apply knowledge
of fluid dynamics to assess wake effects and wind shear, geologists could gauge seismic
conditions, topographic complexity could be evaluated by surveyors and environmental
conditions could be judged by environmental science majors. As seen in graph one, Auburn does
not have the highest wind speeds in the state. However, the humidity is very high year round.
When looking at historical averages, the lowest average percentage of humidity is in December
at 41%. Most of the year the air has around 75% humidity (Weather Underground). Higher
humidity means higher air density, which means there is more energy to be extracted from the
wind, as kinetic energy is proportional to mass. Auburn University is a name that is associated
with prestige; it is one of the best schools in the nation for agriculture and engineering. If
Auburn were to set up a program like this, it would enhance its reputation and it wouldnt be
long before other schools followed suit. The United States could start contributing to creating a
more sustainable society.
I do not know if Auburn would be a feasible place to house wind turbines, but the initial
assessment, research, and observation is what needs to be done before taking more large-scale
steps. If this happens, Auburn could potentially generate jobs and revenue, which could then go
on to fund more research. It is a fact that the energy sources we currently use will eventually run
out. This is why it is so important that we research and develop technologies to produce energy
from renewable resources. If Auburn was to implement a pilot-program to research assessment,
set-up, and advancement of wind power, not only would multiple majors be able to collaborate
together, further unifying the university, but they would also be working towards a goal to
provide a better future.

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Graph one. (AWS Truepower, LLC)

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Works Cited
AWS Truepower, LLC. Alabama- Annual Average Wind Speed at 80 M. Digital image. U.S.
Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. 4 June 2015. Web.
U.S. Department of Energy. "ENERGY.GOV - Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable
Energy." History of Wind Energy. Web. 10 June 2015.
Phillips, Sarah. "Auburn University Recognized as 2015 U.S. Department of Education Green
Ribbon School." Auburn University - The Newsroom. Auburn University, 4 June 2015.
Web. 16 June 2015.
Saizar, Jason. Sustainability Wind Power. Class days 5&6. Edificios Inteligentes, Engineering
Association of Navarre. Pamplona, Spain. 8-9 June, 2015. Lecture.
Sanagerico, Ana. Wind Energy. Class days 5&6. Edificios Inteligentes, Engineering
Association of Navarre. Pamplona, Spain. 8-9 June, 2015. Lecture.
"Weather for Auburn, AL | Weather Underground." Weather Underground. The Weather Channel,
LLC, 2015. Web. 9 June 2015.