Wind energy pays big in Burnet County

BURNET COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) - Blowing through Burnet County are the first signs of renewable resources being used for energy there. The Lower Colorado River Authority has recently held public forums in the area about possibly installing transmission lines to increase the production of individual wind turbines.

With proposals for an additional 200 megawatts of wind power underway around the Highland Lakes, it is no wonder some residents like Larry Westphal along County Road 202 are taking that pitch seriously.

His contribution is small in scale compared to what you’re probably used to seeing. The 12-foot blade span on his wind turbine is barely noticeable driving by.

“It averages about 200 kilowatts a month, ” said Westphal. “With solar panels, you have to have sun. This thing will go all day, all night, all day and all night, all day, all night, you know. Your light bill’s $30 opposed to $85.”

Larry ordered the $5,000 parts for the turbine when he and his wife Judy noticed their energy bills going up.

“She was all for it,” he laughed. “It was just climbing the tower she didn’t like. She didn’t like me climbing the tower.”

A former industrial mechanic, Larry designed the retractable base himself, so he wouldn’t have to make that climb. Beyond the power it produced, his Judy initially had concerns about the commotion it might cause just a few yards from their home.

“We thought it might make more noise than it does, but it’s been pretty quiet,” Judy said.

Larry replied, “It’s just a whine, a light whine.”

Since completing the turbine in December, Larry has continued his quest to curb cost. He built a solar-powered water heater for their home and now sells them for $800 a tub.

“They hold about 25 gallons each,” he said. “For me and the wife, it’s plenty.”

Judy agreed, “The water gets really hot, hotter than it did before really.”

They even joked about Larry’s next project.

“We have a solar clothes dryer also,” Judy giggled. “I get to use that pretty often. It’s two posts with three lines that go across.”

Whether that cost-saving clothes line ever becomes a creation, what they have now already saves the couple 70% on the electric bill, actually stopping the utility meter when the wind blows hard and giving the power company a little extra jolt for other customers.

“You use it up in the house,” Larry said. “Whatever you don’t use it just sends it down the line.”

Not only is this thing a big money saver, but it is also very durable. Meant to shut off when winds pick up to 55 mph, it withstood near 100 mph winds last month when a huge storm rolled through Burnet County. You can hear Larry talk about that nail biting night in an iPhone video shot at his ranch below or email him for more information.