November 16, 2011
Illinois

Heartland wind turbine project might be delayed

By: Paul Morello, WJBC, wjbc.com 15 November 2011

NORMAL – A snag in the process to build a wind turbine at Heartland Community College might delay construction on the project.

Vice President of Business Services, Rob Widmer said the Board of Trustees might have to reconsider the turbine’s location because of safety issues with how close the structure can be to buildings when there is ice coming off it.

“That changes the placement and what we have to examine is, does that then change any of the analysis that we’ve had to complete to this point for that placement,” he said.

Widmer said the move would only be about 50 meters. He also expressed concern that if the delay extends, the college might need to consider asking for an extension on a grant to build the turbine.

Goben participates in community college commission

President Allen Goben is hoping to keep the school on the cutting edge of teaching strategies. He is part of the 21st Century Commission on the Future of Community Colleges, which is a national commission convened by the American Association of Community Colleges to review the schools’ goals. He updated the Board of trustees on the commission’s progress Tuesday night.

“We’re at that pivotal societal change point where community colleges around America really need to sit down and have a very detailed conversation about our mission, purpose, scope and goals for the future,” Goben said.

He said the group is focusing heavily on redisigning developmental education and figuring out how to integrate the philosophies of a liberal arts education and a career-based education.

He expects the group to release a report early next summer.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/11/16/heartland-wind-turbine-project-might-be-delayed/