Wind Power: Renewable Energy for Home, Farm, & Business (2004) by Paul Gipe

Acknowldegements

No one can write a book on a subject that crosses so many disciplines as wind energy without the help of numerous contributors. I am especially indebted to Vaughn Nelson at West Texas A & M University's Alternative Energy Institute. Vaughn first taught me the importance of swept area and how to quickly cut through the hype that often surrounds wind turbines. AEI's Ken Starcher has been invaluable for his technical expertise as well as his old-fashioned common sense. Nelson and Starcher have produced one of the most comprehensible texts on wind energy that I've found anywhere. The CD-ROM version was particularly helpful.

My thanks to Mick Sagrillo, Sagrillo Light & Power, and Hugh Piggott, Scoraig Wind Electric, for answering my many questions on battery-charging wind systems. Both Mick and Hugh are fonts of practical, hands-on knowledge of small wind turbine design. Their observations are peppered throughout the text.

Jim Salmon, Zephyr North and Jack Kline, RAM Associates were instrumental in the expanded chapter on wind resources, as were Dave Blittersdorf, NRG Systems, and Ken Cohn, Second Wind. Small wind turbine manufacturers worldwide deserve a note of appreciation for responding to my frequent queries about their products. Over the years Mike and Karl Bergey, Bergey Windpower Company have been notably forthcoming.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Folkecenter for Renewable Energy and the people of Denmark for a fellowship to study the distributed use of wind energy in northwest Jutland. It was at the Folkecenter where I first learned how to use a Griphoist to install small turbines.

My appreciation also to Bill Hopwood and Dennis Elliott for their contributions on siting. David Suey, Ken O'Brock, and Alan Wyatt for their help with mechanical wind pumps. Michael Klemen, Eric Eggleston, Claus Nybroe, and Jason Edworthy for their insightful comments on small wind turbine design. Capitola Reece, Gene Heisey, Art and Maxine Cook, Phil Littler, Sister Paula Larson, Eli Walter, and Bill Young for sharing their experiences. Gil Morrissey for his tutelage to a sometimes dim-witted apprentice electrician. Ed Butler for advice on how to do the job right. Klaus Kaiser, Christoph Stork, Bernard Saulnier, Charles Dugué, and Charles Rosseel for their help with the lexicon. Heiner Dörner for historical background on FLAIR. Susan Nelson for her faith in the future. And Nancy Nies for both her encouragement and unstinting aid.

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