The Duncan Banner

Local News

January 7, 2009

RRTC going ‘green’

Derrick Miller

DUNCAN — The winds of Oklahoma will be put to good use for Red River Technology Center. RRTC plans to harness the energy of the wind when it puts up a wind tower.

RRTC Superintendent Ken Layn said, “Red River has decided to move into the green era.”

Not only will the tower be used for its energy, it will also be part of the electronics program’s curriculum. Layn said RRTC is working toward a wind-technology program.

The wind turbine chosen by RRTC is different from comparable towers because it has an induction generator. This type of generator generates alternating currents.

“It’s unique in that way,” Layn said.

The tower has a warranty of 40 years and will be able to use winds of up to 52 miles per hour.

He said the RRTC Board of Education has been a significant player in getting the wind tower for the technology center.

“It’s kind of an exciting project for me,” Layn said. “The board of education wants to be a leader.

“The board was very much for it.”

Only 13 of these types of wind towers have been ordered in Oklahoma, he said. RRTC will be the first to receive its tower, which, once again, makes this a unique circumstance.

The school also teamed up with Ditch Witch of Oklahoma, a company that got the wind tower process started by boring a tunnel beneath a road.

Layn said this partnership had a great effect on the project because everyone involved has been excited about getting the tower in place.

He said the wind turbine will have positive effects for the technology center because it will have multiple benefits for RRTC. He said the tower will not only be used for curriculum, but it will also be the first step toward the technology center’s bid to go green.

“We’re going to generate some power to put back into the building,” Layn said. “All of us realize if we don’t go green, we’re really not doing what we should be doing.”

He said the wind tower is a good start in going green.

“We’ve got to do more of these things,” he said.

Layn said this is also a step toward taking the technology center in a positive direction, while thinking about the future of the program. He said the wind tower is something he’d like to be able to work with the community on.

He said he would like to show off the wind tower to the community when it is put in place.

“Any of our patrons can come, and we can show them how it works,” Layn said.

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