St. Croix Church breaks ground for 10Kw turbine

St. Croix Reform Church received one of 20 grants issued by the Energy Office with funds from the America Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. On Nov. 13, the Church broke ground for a 10Kw Bergey wind turbine.

The total cost of the turbine and tower installation is $66,000. A $50,000 grant is coming from the Energy Office and $16,500 is from the Church Reserve Fund. Based on current rates and consumption, the church's Task Force estimates that over the next 15 years the turbine will generate between $126,000 and $185,000 in energy savings.

"Or God finds many ways to give gifts. Winds have blown over this hill since the beginning of creation,” Pastor Rod Koopmans said in services before the  groundbreaking ceremony for the turbine.

“We are excited about using the wind God has made to create our own energy,” he said.

For a slide show presentation see http://www.slideshare.net/EnergyOffice/church-groundbreaking.