City of Monahans

City of Monahans – Two (2) 50 KW Wind Turbine Installation

The city of Monahans is located approximately 35 miles southwest of Odessa, Texas, in Ward County. The community of Monahans is located on I-20 in the heart of the Permian Basin. The city of Monahans has two 50KW wind turbines, which are installed, on the south side of the interstate at the city’s water treatment facility. The turbines are providing approximately forty percent (40%) of the water treatment power needs. The two wind turbines are mounted on monopole towers of one hundred and twenty foot (120’) height.

As a matter of fact, they're the first wind turbines in Ward County. "I think it shows that our city leaders are progressive and looking toward the future," Morse Haynes, Director of Economic Development, said. "Anytime the wind is blowing, we're saving money." Director of Economic Development – Morse Haynes

Wind Turbines Saving Monahans Taxpayers Thousands of Dollars
1/6/09
Beau Berman
CBS 7 News
January 6, 2009

Monahans, Texas - It's a project that will save Monahans taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars and bring clean energy to the Permian Basin. The city's using turbines to profit from the West Texas winds. It's hard to miss Monahans' newest attraction: the two wind turbines towering 120 feet above the horizon. We'll all benefit not only from environmentally wise but financially", says City Manager David Mills. He began the project last year. Now after months of sky-high construction these turbines will start spinning this Thursday, powering 40 percent of the city's water treatment plant. The turbines will save Monahans plenty of money and equally important they consider them a pathway to their energy future. The city of Monahans realized two things, one they're paying money for energy and two they've got great wind resources here", says technician Gabriel Thatcher. Thatcher is getting the 50 kilowatt turbines ready to spin, putting the finishing touches on this forward-thinking project. When I see these turbines here it makes me think that they're going in the right direction and figuring things out and trying to keep up with the changing world, says Thatcher. Put going green aside, the turbines will cut electricity costs by $30,000 dollars a year and save taxpayers nearly half a million dollars over the next 30 years. I just think it's totally great. We needed something like that in Monahans, says Monahans resident Monica Vance. For Vance, it's a chance to save some green while going green. It'll save us money for the water. It would be excellent to have it. Mills is setting his sights on adding up to ten turbines in the next few years, possibly turning the "magnetic" city to the "windy" city. It'll be our first and certainly our largest but hopefully it's just the beginning.

First Wind Turbines in Ward County Offer New Opportunities
2010-01-19 17:55:09
source: NewsWest 9
http://en.86wind.com/bencandy.php?fid=3&id=2728

Ward County - The oil field slowdown has prompted one Basin city to re-think it's job creation strategy. On Wednesday morning, Monahans leaders kicked off the start of their wind energy plan with the first two turbines in the county.

If you've been down I-20 near Monahans lately, you may have noticed something different. Two wind turbines are powering the city's waste water treatment facility, but not only are they saving taxpayer's money, they're creating new opportunities. "We want to diversify," Monahans Mayor David Cutbirth, said.

"We want to bring in solar and wind. This is kind of one of those things we looked at and said, 'we need to get it over here.'" With the oil and gas industry slowing down, Monahans leaders decided it was time for a change. "We were looking at putting some wind turbines up and certainly this is a good location right along the Interstate," Mayor Cutbirth said.

The city began construction on the $400,000 project in November, and now standing 120 feet tall, they'll give Ward County something it's needed for a long time. “We know the wind blows out here, but to have data, you have to finance a specific project," Haynes said. "So I think these will help provide data to spur on other developers."

Right now, Monahans Economic Development is working with two other developers hoping to install large-scale wind projects. "That information should lead to a lot, we're hoping thousands of these wind turbines will be put up in Ward County," Mayor Cutbirth said. That means hundreds of new renewable energy maintenance and construction jobs.

"Monahans always tried to be progressive and do things that save money and benefit the community," Haynes said.

NewsWest 9