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Preface

My work on this book and my previous book, Power from the Wind, started in the summer of 2006. I’d just published The Homeowner’s Guide to Renewable Energy, a book that introduces readers to the many renewable energy options they can tap into to power their homes and businesses.

I was working with a client in northern Michigan, helping her design a super-efficient passive solar home for a small organic farm and ecological learning center. She asked if I’d design a wind energy system to produce electricity to pump water to irrigate her gardens. I answered yes without thinking. What could be so hard about that?

When I arrived home, I realized that I needed to learn a lot more about small wind energy systems and site analysis to provide meaningful advice, so I began to read everything I could on small wind energy systems. Soon after my studies began, I became enthralled with this technology. As my knowledge grew, I felt the fervent didactic impulse emerge once again. The impetus for all my books has been a desire to share the new and exciting knowledge I’ve acquired. By sharing this knowledge, I like to think I am making a contribution to individuals who want to learn about wind but don’t have the time or inclination to wade through a hundred articles and books on the subject. As my knowledge grew, however, I realized that I needed help. I needed a knowledgeable expert or two in small wind energy to provide advice and guidance, correct mistakes, and provide additional information. While attending the Midwest Renewable Energy Association’s annual energy fair, I asked Mick Sagrillo if he’d help. Mick’s the guru of small wind. He’s one of the most knowledgeable small wind experts in the world. Mick Sagrillo has been in the small wind industry since 1981. He has taught numerous workshops on small wind energy systems through the Midwest Renewable Energy Association and Solar Energy International. He writes a column for Windletter, the American Wind Energy Association’s newsletter, and Solar Today. He has also published numerous articles in Home Power magazine and has consulted on Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy’s small wind program. Despite a hectic schedule, Mick agreed to assist me. He served as the technical advisor to me on my wind energy book, offering invaluable information and advice throughout.

A year or so later, I approached New Society Publishers with the idea of publishing a series of books on renewable energy technologies for the home and office. They liked the idea, and we were off and running.

It’s then that I shifted my education into high gear. I took numerous workshops on small wind energy. Most important were hands-on workshops where we installed entire wind systems. In 2007, I became a certified wind site assessor. In 2008, I built my own wind turbine.

In 2007, I recruited another wind expert, Home Power’s Ian Woofenden. Like Mick, Ian teaches installation workshops and writes articles for Home Power magazine on wind energy. He’s also a gold mine of information, as he’s been living off-grid on wind and solar energy for years.

In the summer of 2007, Jim Green, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s small wind expert offered his assistance. He volunteered to read the manuscript and to help ensure the book’s accuracy.

A few months later, I added Robert Aram, an electrical engineer, to the team. I’d worked with Bob in several wind energy workshops. His vast knowledge, experience, and extraordinary ability to explain complex subjects in a clear way and his knowledge of physics and engineering proved extremely valuable to me. Bob read the book to help ensure accuracy.

My advisors offered valuable comments that helped me produce Power from the Wind, published in 2009, and now Wind Power Basics, the condensed version you hold in your hands. I am deeply indebted to them for their comments and corrections and am extremely honored to have worked with such amazing people. A world of thanks to them and to all the others whose work I relied on when writing this book.

A world of thanks also to my dear friends at New Society Publishers, Chris and Judith Plant, who have, over the years, been an absolute delight to work for. Thanks for taking this project on and for believing in me, and thanks for their unwavering dedication to creating a sustainable society. Thanks to the staff at New Society as well: Ingrid Witvoet who shepherded this book through production; Greg Green, who, as always, did a smashing job of designing and laying out the book; and my astute and congenial copyeditor, Linda Glass, for helping make this a better book. I’d also like to thank a new member of my team, Dr. Anil Rao, a professor of biology, who illustrated this book. He’s a valuable part of this book’s success.

I’d also like to thank my family. A world of thanks to my partner Linda who has listened patiently to my many discussions of wind turbines and wind site assessments. Thanks, too, to my sons, whose lives continue to grace mine.

— Dan Chiras, Evergreen, Colorado