Happy Earth Day!

I should be going to bed, but I figured I'd better get this one in while I can...

So today is Earth Day. The funny thing is that I have my two VIth Form (senior) classes working on projects that are investigating ways to incorporate renewable energy sources into our lives here at school. I have been e-mailing with my dad about some ideas I had, and one that Haylee and I are excited about is putting up a wind turbine at the Fish Farm. Of course the apple doesn't fall far from the tree sometimes, but I'm hoping the young apple will have better resources available than the tree did (brutalized metaphor, but stay with me).
When I was young, Mom and Dad had a wind generator erected, and I believe it was the late '70's during the Carter oil embargo. I remember Dad and a couple guys putting up the tower and then mounting the very futuristic turbine proudly on top. Little chance was there that we could have envisioned all the excitement to come.
I can still clearly see the power meter spinning backwards as the gusts of wind brought tears to my eyes. Dad was pointing to the meter and shouting, "Look! We're making money!" That was because if the meter was spinning backwards, the power company would pay you for the electricity put back onto the grid. I wish to God Dad had knocked on wood when he hollered those words because, if I'm not mistaken, almost immediately after they left his lips, an awful, screeching, metal-on-metal cacophony caused us to look up and see the suddenly-frozen windmill was down to two propeller blades (from its original three). The speed at which the whole process took place, from the blurred motion of three blades making green-backs out of the demi-hurricane, to a violent, rather scary non-motion, was hard to believe.
I don't know how many times Dad climbed the too-tall tower because the motor burned itself out. That thing went through brakes like I don't know what. Ah yes, those were the days...

So now we are getting one! I hope and pray turbine technology has moved into the modern age. As I write this, I am envisioning that little wheel in the meter spinning madly in reverse, making the fat cash. Bet your ass I'm knockin' on wood!

Happy Earth Day!
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