Using Wind for Good

Alternative energy sources. We hear it discussed all the time, and most of the time, we tune it out. How could we, as college students, really do much about it anyway, right?

Alternative fuels, solar energy, hybrid cars... it all seems far from what we can really do to make a difference in our world today.

JMU, however, decided to rise up (literally) and build a wind turbine on East Campus earlier this month to incorporate alternative energy sources into the university.

Photo by Rachel Dawson

This wind turbine can be seen from basically anywhere on campus, and it honestly took me by surprise when I first saw it. My first thought was, "Wow, what the heck! When did that get there?!" but I was quickly impressed by it and glad that JMU is doing something to create alternative energy on our campus.

Photo by Rachel Dawson

The turbine is going to create power for our university using solar panels that were installed this week.  This means more natural energy straight from the environment and less energy from non-renewable resources.

I've always hated Harrisonburg's wild winds, but now I'm seriously glad we have them and even more glad we're using them for energy instead of just hating them for messing up our hair and blowing away our napkins and papers.

Photo by Rachel Dawson

The sky is literally the limit when it comes to saving our environment by using renewable resources, and as the student body of JMU, let's support what our awesome university is doing and encourage even more environmentally friendly progress.

And don't complain when the wind blows you away...it's creating energy and that's awesome. Embrace it.