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For nearly 140 years, the windmill has been a factor in the expansion of agriculture and stock raising in Churchill County, the state of Nevada, and throughout the nation.
Initially developed in the late l860s to bring water to fields and cattle operations, and later utilized to generate electricity to remote farms and ranches, the windmill today still performs an important function to a dwindling number of farmers and ranchers in Churchill County and the west.
Locally, a half dozen or so traditional windmills are still functioning, providing water to thirsty fields and livestock, their multi-bladed wind turbines set atop wooden or steel lattice towers rotating slowly in the wind to produce an up-and-down motion to draw water from wells, ponds, lakes or other sources of water.
Many non-functioning windmills also are to be found here and elsewhere in Northern Nevada. Broken, inoperative or abandoned, they nevertheless serve as a picturesque reminder of our Western agricultural heritage in a modern era that has seen the electrification of virtually all of the nation.
At one time many years ago, the mechanical windmill was considered, along with barbed wire, as one of the two prime high technology inventions serving the western frontier.
Initially developed in the late l860s to bring water to fields and cattle operations, and later utilized to generate electricity to remote farms and ranches, the windmill today still performs an important function to a dwindling number of farmers and ranchers in Churchill County and the west.
Locally, a half dozen or so traditional windmills are still functioning, providing water to thirsty fields and livestock, their multi-bladed wind turbines set atop wooden or steel lattice towers rotating slowly in the wind to produce an up-and-down motion to draw water from wells, ponds, lakes or other sources of water.
Many non-functioning windmills also are to be found here and elsewhere in Northern Nevada. Broken, inoperative or abandoned, they nevertheless serve as a picturesque reminder of our Western agricultural heritage in a modern era that has seen the electrification of virtually all of the nation.
At one time many years ago, the mechanical windmill was considered, along with barbed wire, as one of the two prime high technology inventions serving the western frontier.
Before the Rural Electrification Administration began subsidizing rural electric coops and electric lines in the 1930s, farm and ranch families used windmills not only to bring water to animals and crops but to power lights, radios and kitchen appliances.
But today, although these traditional windmills are serving a dwindling number of agricultural operations, a growing number of homes and businesses are erecting them solely for decorative purposes.
Ellen Sattler, manager of American Windmills Inc., a Placerville, Calif. firm that services about 1,500 windmill customers in Nevada, tells me that for $5,000, her company will sell and erect a windmill, tower, and cylinder pump that will provide from three to 60 gallons of water a minute, the amount of water depending on the area's wind velocity and height of the tower.
"About half of our customers use the windmills to pump water. The other half erect them purely for nostalgic or decorative purposes," said Sattler, whose firm is the only one serving Northern Nevada.
Pete Konesky, energy specialist with the Nevada State Office of Energy in Carson City, says that the development and production of wind energy has made significant strides since windmills were first used in the U.S. and were initially developed in Persia as early as the 7th century BC.
But today, although these traditional windmills are serving a dwindling number of agricultural operations, a growing number of homes and businesses are erecting them solely for decorative purposes.
Ellen Sattler, manager of American Windmills Inc., a Placerville, Calif. firm that services about 1,500 windmill customers in Nevada, tells me that for $5,000, her company will sell and erect a windmill, tower, and cylinder pump that will provide from three to 60 gallons of water a minute, the amount of water depending on the area's wind velocity and height of the tower.
"About half of our customers use the windmills to pump water. The other half erect them purely for nostalgic or decorative purposes," said Sattler, whose firm is the only one serving Northern Nevada.
Pete Konesky, energy specialist with the Nevada State Office of Energy in Carson City, says that the development and production of wind energy has made significant strides since windmills were first used in the U.S. and were initially developed in Persia as early as the 7th century BC.
Although modern-day windmills still operate on the same basic principles used by the Persians, and later by the Dutch and Spanish beginning in the 12th century, the massive windmills erected in the Altamont Pass area east of San Francisco and in San Gorgonio Pass west of Palm Springs are capable of generating enough electrical power to run small cities and counties such as Fallon and Churchill County, said Konesky.
These huge windmills are set upon tubular steel towers that rise 200 feet in the air and have blades which are 150 feet in diameter, dwarfing in size and scope the traditional farm and ranch windmills that, alas, are a dying breed here in the West.
Expanding on the uses of wind energy to produce electrical power in the West via these huge new windmills found on the so-called "windmill farms" near San Francisco and Palm Springs, Konesky noted that last month's announcement by a Swedish firm that it plans to build its main U.S. plant in Northern Nevada bodes well for the future uses of wind power in this region.
Not only would new jobs and tax revenues come about with the construction of the Swedish Nordic Windpower firm, but the company hopes to partner with Sierra Pacific to erect a wind farm in a northern part of Nevada, Konesky added.
The location of the "farm" has not yet been determined, but it undoubtedly will be between Carson City and north of Reno, he said.
These huge windmills are set upon tubular steel towers that rise 200 feet in the air and have blades which are 150 feet in diameter, dwarfing in size and scope the traditional farm and ranch windmills that, alas, are a dying breed here in the West.
Expanding on the uses of wind energy to produce electrical power in the West via these huge new windmills found on the so-called "windmill farms" near San Francisco and Palm Springs, Konesky noted that last month's announcement by a Swedish firm that it plans to build its main U.S. plant in Northern Nevada bodes well for the future uses of wind power in this region.
Not only would new jobs and tax revenues come about with the construction of the Swedish Nordic Windpower firm, but the company hopes to partner with Sierra Pacific to erect a wind farm in a northern part of Nevada, Konesky added.
The location of the "farm" has not yet been determined, but it undoubtedly will be between Carson City and north of Reno, he said.
When I asked Konesky how he would compare the wind velocity found in Churchill County with the rest of the state, he said our wind is "moderate."
"But some areas of northern Churchill County, especially those near road markers 60 and 62 on Interstate 80, have been designated high wind areas by NDOT, and I'd like to see a couple of the new wind turbines located there," he said.
Meanwhile, as the Swedes decide when and where to base their Nevada operation and construct those gargantuan clusters of wind towers, hop in your car and drive 43 miles east on Highway 50 to Westgate.
There, on the left (north) side of the road, you'll come upon a magnificent and charming remnant of Churchill County's wind generating heritage: a still-operating traditional windmill bringing water to the livestock operations of the Bench Creek Ranch.
There aren't many of these old windmills remaining, and the ones that are appear to be on life support. Take a photo of this windmill, as I did to illustrate today's column.
It's a graphic example of our fading past.
"But some areas of northern Churchill County, especially those near road markers 60 and 62 on Interstate 80, have been designated high wind areas by NDOT, and I'd like to see a couple of the new wind turbines located there," he said.
Meanwhile, as the Swedes decide when and where to base their Nevada operation and construct those gargantuan clusters of wind towers, hop in your car and drive 43 miles east on Highway 50 to Westgate.
There, on the left (north) side of the road, you'll come upon a magnificent and charming remnant of Churchill County's wind generating heritage: a still-operating traditional windmill bringing water to the livestock operations of the Bench Creek Ranch.
There aren't many of these old windmills remaining, and the ones that are appear to be on life support. Take a photo of this windmill, as I did to illustrate today's column.
It's a graphic example of our fading past.
