Stark’s Inc., an Ohio-based mechanical contracting and HVAC firm serving residential, commercial and industrial customers recently announced the installation of a wind turbine for a local community college that will not only generate electricity but will teach renewable power generation to the future’s engineers.

The Skystream 3.7, a residential wind turbine with a rated capacity that reaches 2.4 kW, will be principally used as an educational tool for the Northwest State Community College’s new alternative energy courses, but it will also be producing power for the Northwest State.

Designed for small commercial applications, the wind turbine will be raised on a 45-foot monopole tower and attached directly into the grid to
generate electricity when wind speeds reach eight miles per hour.

Stark's Inc. President Shawn Stark said "We are fortunate to have a forward-thinking educational institution like Northwest State in our area. It's exciting to be a part of a project that will not only raise awareness about alternative energy, but also help prepare the future work force for this field."

Aside from the installed wind turbine, a full-sized model turbine will let students see what goes on inside the turbine through an opening on its side.

"There will be jobs in the alternative energy design and service industries [and] it is our job to get a trained work force ready to fill the needs of this industry," said Northwest State Engineering Technologies Dean Dan Burklo.

Northwest State Community College is a public two-year college accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools offering 44 degree and 28 certificate and non-degree programs in the fields of Arts and Sciences, Allied Health and Public Service, Business Technologies and Engineering Technologies.

The installation of the Skystream 3.7 wind turbine will be celebrated through a tower raising ceremony open to the public on August 4.


- Sunshine T. Santiago