A Crop of Kilowatts

St. Olaf's wind turbine is an essential element of its strategic plan and its sustainable energy plan, but it's also an element of the college's agricultural stewardship. The wind tower will be planted in the middle of a field that grows corn and soybeans and alfalfa.

Unlike those crops, which are annuals, the wind turbine is a perennial. Unlike those crops, which live and die in Minnesota 's short growing season, the turbine will harvest its crop of kilowatts year round. In fact, we expect bumper crops of electricity in the months between November and March, when northwest winds whip across Manitou Heights.