James Madison University

Current Events

2008 Pennsylvania Wind Energy Symposium

Governor’s Commission on Climate Change

AWEA Offshore Event, Sept. 9th-10th

Featured Photo

Ocean Power Display at Nauticus in Norfolk, VA (Jose Blanco, August 2008)

Wind News in the Region

Scientists: Tangier ripe for wind-energy project, The Virginian-Pilot (Oct.10th, 2008)

Caroline man generating his own electrical power, The Free Lance-Star (Sept 15th, 2008)

Wind is Given 2nd Look As Energy Needs Grow, Washington Post (Aug. 3rd, 2008)

Community Wind Energy 2008, Windustry (Feb. 28th, 2008)

USDA Outreach Conference at Virginia State University, USDA (Feb. 28th, 2008)

2008 Renewable Energy Workshops, North Carolina Wind Energy (Feb. 25th 2008)

Wind farm proposed near Elkins, Charleston Gazette (Feb. 13th, 2008)

An Island Of Energy, Daily News Record (Feb. 6th, 2008) 

Virginia Small Wind Incentives Program

Principle Investigator: James Madison University

This program is intended to provide Virginia landowners an opportunity to buy down the cost of a small wind system, as to make the investment cost-effective in the sense of providing a life cycle cost comparable to that of fossil-generated electricity over the lifetime of the wind energy system. During the two-year program, it is proposed to award ten Virginia landowners grants of up to $10,000 each to bring down the initial capital cost of the turbine and support tower, and the expense of installing and commissioning the system. The longer-range goal of the project is to spur the confidence in wind energy necessary for Virginia to implement additional wind energy systems throughout the state, both small and large scale.

Principle Investigator: James Madison University

Term: September 2003 - December 2005

Deliverables / Outcomes:

  • Research relevant to small wind system development
  • Issue press releases to solicit applications
  • Conduct small wind system economic feasibility analysis
  • Address zoning, permitting and grid connection
  • Plan and host two (in-class and hands-on) turbine installation workshops
  • Final briefing
  • Final report

The first round of VSWIP Grant Applicants were selected in May 2004 to receive incentives. A second round of grants were selected in July of 2005. The third and final round of grants were selected in January and February of 2006. We are presently working with grant awardees to install their systems. We are no longer accepting applications for the program.

Applicant Status List

Program Description

Application

Small Wind Energy Systems Workshop

Press Release

For further information regarding VSWIP, please contact Jeff Briggs by e-mail at briggsjn@jmu.edu.