James Madison University Wordmark

Announcements (Updated 2/14/08)

The Virginia State-Based Anemometer Loan Program based at James Madison University was established in 2001 and has served more than 30 sites throughout the Commonwealth since then. In 2007, the program was temporarily halted to allow time for equipment upgrades and program assessment. The Virginia SBALP will resume operation, with updated mission and protocols, in Spring 2008.

Featured Photo (Delaplane, VA (Oct. 2003)

Picture of the Day

Wind News in the Region

Wind is Given 2nd Look As Energy Needs Grow, Washington Post (Aug. 3rd, 2008)

Community Wind Energy 2008, Windustry (Feb. 28th, 2008)

USDA Outreach Conference at Virginia State University, USDA (Feb. 28th, 2008)

2008 Renewable Energy Workshops, North Carolina Wind Energy (Feb. 25th 2008)

Wind farm proposed near Elkins, Charleston Gazette (Feb. 13th, 2008)

An Island Of Energy, Daily News Record (Feb. 6th, 2008) 

Program Description

James Madison University (JMU) is administering the Virginia State Based Anemometer Loan Program (SBALP) under a grant from the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME), with assistance from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). SBALP was established by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Wind Powering America Initiative out of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office (PRO). The program expects to spur the development and use of wind power in the state of Virginia by helping potential wind turbine users to quantify their wind resource.

JMU has received 10 wind-measuring anemometers through SBALP. These anemometers will be loaned to land owners giving them the opportunity to measure their available wind energy resource while providing wind data to Virginia and NREL. JMU will be responsible for receiving applications of interested participants in the program, selecting which sites are most appropriate for the wind energy study, distribution and installation of the anemometers, and gathering and processing the data. NREL and DMME will work with JMU as partners on the project.

Applications may be submitted at any time and will be considered if the ten measuring devices have not already been loaned. All applications will be kept on file and will be reconsidered as necessary.