Alternative energy blowing in the wind

• By JASON BROWN
• Advocate Acadiana bureau
• Published: Jun 8, 2009 - Page: 1A

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WASHINGTON — Louisiana’s third-oldest settlement could become the state’s first to have a wind turbine, bringing it closer to energy independence and ahead of a nationwide call for increased use of renewable resources.

The town of Washington sits off Interstate 49 about eight miles north of Opelousas in St. Landry Parish.
Settled in 1720, Washington, with its 500 or so homes, has long been known as a destination for historic architecture and antiques.

Now it wants to add a new item to that list: Louisiana’s greenest community.

Mayor Joseph Pitre envisions bringing the town off the electrical grid by offsetting energy from the proposed wind turbine with methane gas, which would be pumped in from a nearby landfill that began capturing the gas earlier this year.

“If it works, I see the real estate values going up,” Pitre said. “I see people being grateful they live in Washington. I see other people being envious that they don’t live in Washington.”

The town currently uses services from Cleco.

This plan would be tied to the town’s goal of burying its power lines, which would keep it from having to service lines during and after storms.

The town currently is waiting to hear from the state on whether it qualifies for $350,000 in federal stimulus money, which would be used on a feasibility study for the project. It is but one of many funding sources Pitre intends to tap into.

“We know it works, it’s just a matter of, will it work for us,” he said.

The feasibility study would determine whether the town receives enough wind to power the turbine along with whether it is economically feasible to build the infrastructure needed to bring the methane gas to town.

Andy Vigé believes the town’s site will generate the needed wind.

Vigé is the rancher who has offered to allow the town to use about 5 acres of land on his 290-acre ranch right off I-49 in Washington.

“This is a real unique spot because it is so high up,” Vigé said, adding there always seems to be wind blowing through the area.