(Spirit Lake)– The Spirit Lake School Board is assessing the future of the small wind turbine. According to information presented at Monday evening’s meeting, the turbine was erected in 1993 and hasn’t been operational for a number of years due to mechanical issues. The cost to repair it has been put at roughly $80,000. Officials say parts for it are no longer made and would have to be specially fabricated.
It was reported at Monday’s meeting that a missionary group from California has expressed interest in dismantling it and shipping it to South Africa where it would be used to pump water. That would be done at no expense to the school district. The board took no action on the matter pending formal agreements and other details being worked out.
There was also discussion about the large turbine, which also hasn’t worked for several years. It was reported that an expert recently looked at it and found that it could likely be repaired at a feasible cost. It was erected in about 2001. There was no action taken regarding that, either.
