what is available...options

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. State-
Wind 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
continued >