Goshen firm’s wind turbine-to-electricity idea surges

By Ed Ernstes (ernstes@wsbt.com)

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Employees of Lucid Energy Technologies view an early model of their vertical access wind turbine. WSBT-TV Photo

By WSBT 24/7 News

Story Created: Apr 14, 2009 at 6:19 PM EDT

Story Updated: Apr 17, 2009 at 11:50 AM EDT

Lucid Energy Technologies is creating a wind turbine prototype to generate up to 5 kilowatts of power. The company hopes to have the prototype ready to test in the next six weeks.

By the end of the year, 18 turbines will be ready for testing before beginning full production. Full production translates to hiring employees.

“So we need people like engineers as well as manufacturing, and of course, all the other components that go with selling technologies,” said Gina Leichty. “Ultimately, there will be a lot of different jobs created,” she said, including sales people and installers.

Lucid Energy Technologies’ vertical access wind turbines will be used by small businesses and eventually homes. Vertical access wind turbines can harness wind from any direction, unlike other wind turbines.

Company officials believe the Midwest is primed for renewable energy manufacturing. The American Wind Energy Association said Indiana is the fastest growing state for installation of wind turbines.

This week is “Wind Energy Week,” as declared by Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels. Later this week, two new wind energy projects will break ground in western Indiana.

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