Aided by momentum from community organizations like ReNew Northfield, Carleton installed its first, 1.65-MW wind turbine in 2004, a 1.65 MW Vestas V87.  The electricity produced by the first turbine is sold back to our energy provider Xcel Energy, and provided to the public utility grid.

Carleton’s second wind turbine is a 1.68 MW GE XLE, built in 2011 thanks to a generous grant in 2008 from environmentally-minded alumni Richard and Laurie Kracum.  The second turbine is connected directly to the campus grid and provides approximately 25% of Carleton’s annual electricity consumption.

Each turbine produces 4,000- 4,500 MWh of electricity per year.