The Daily Herald in suburban Chicago profiles Troy Rudy who’s pleased with the $80 monthly electric bill savings he’s getting thanks to his new $10,000 windmill (pictured).
A 35-foot-high wind turbine 12 feet in diameter on Troy Rudy’s property saved him $80 in electrical bills the first month he had it running. But economics wasn’t the only driving force behind setting up the device. Rudy said he’s “always been intrigued by old windmills.” Even so, he researched whether a wind turbine was worth his while, and he said that research convinced him it was. “There’s suitable wind speed,” he said.
Rudy’s research revealed September through June are “good wind months.” Flagstaff, Ariz.-based Southwest Wind Energy manufactured Rudy’s $10,000 Skystream 3.7. Miriam Robbins, the company’s marketing manager, said it’s sold 500 units since December.
The Skystream 3.7 is the newest product from Southwest Windpower.
It was developed jointly with the U.S. Department of Energy and the company bills it as “the first compact, user-friendly, all-inclusive wind generator designed to power utility-connected homes and businesses.”
It looks like good green technology but the economics aren’t really there yet - if Rudy saves an average of $80 per month it will take him 12 years and five months to pay for the Skystream - and that’s if it doesn’t break after the five-year limited warranty expires. And remember, Rudy lives in the suburbs of “the Windy City.” Your mileage, er, your wind speed and savings may varry.
Still, Southwest Wind Energy claims to have sold 500 units in less than a year - at $10,000 a pop that’s significant revenue. Perhaps increased sales volume will bring the price down.
Also, in some but not all states there may be rebates or tax credits available from the state. Example: California.
7 Comments
‘Southwest Windpower’ are congenital LIARS, frauds, charlatans, corporate con-men and WORSE.
Their (alleged) products are pure and utter crap. One would do better if one just threw $100 bills into a gale force wind. Two of the Air-X models in a gale couldn’t ignite a fart with the help of a Bic lighter.
These (SWWP) blatant rip-off artists are goingto be facing crimal conspiracy charges for wanton false-advertising claims in a class-action lawsuit if I have anything to say about it.
As a disabled veteran I now have the time to expend (now that they have stolen all my money and hope) to spread the truth (fact) as far and wide and continuously online about this blatant criminal corporation of professional thieves.
There is NO potential light at the end of their alleged wind tunnel. PERIOD.
Please get intouch with me. I have bought a skystream its been up for less than a month and now its not working. After severial calls swwp finally sent me an email that the problem maybe in there software and that i need to take the turbine down and make repairs. Who pays for this??? And is this going to be an on going problem???? Iam begining to believe all the bad things i have heard about swwp. Have you had any other
complaints about the skystream??????
Purchased my turbine and installed on Aug 1st, 2008. It worked for 2 weeks then failed. SWWP was notified and I have been struggling ever since to get a replacement part. It’s been two months now and I am still down. The dealer I purchased it through can’t get a commitment or response from them either. I know there are many others out there who are getting more than what they bargined for with this product. The concept is good, but the end-user service and support are horrible. Almost time for a class action lawsuit, maybe that will give SWWP a hint.
I have been starting to gather information from a number of individuals in the north east who have installed the Skystream turbine, curently I have 10 sites - I am yet unable to locate anyone who is actually producing the energy that was estimated from there site and in some cases little to no energy.
We are a SWWP Dealer in Brazil with very good wind conditions and are experiencing a lot of problems with the Skystream. Specially frequent stops and consequently low energy production plus that remote control and communication with the turbine. I would very much like to get in contact with owners or dealers experiencing the same situation to share experiences.
I had my Skystream proffesionally installed in October 08 and so far have produced 338kwh. This is in a northern Michigan winter with the worst winds we have had for years. I installed a meter in line so I know exactly what I have produced. I have monitored this unit when we have had 25mph winds for hours and it has never made more than 1kwh in any given hour. This unit is not even close to it’s advertised potential. I would never advise anyone to install one. To make matters worse the state of Michigan will tax me on this unit just as if I had a new building on my premises at a 250$ cost. I now will likely tear this unit down and sell it for scrap as that is all it is worth!
I have one of their crap also. I have had it for five mouths,I have average 70kwh a mouths
I just got some VERY good info about SWWP you all my like to know about. They are NOT REALLY rated at 1.9 it is REALLY a 1.2 if that. For more info go to
http://www.wind-works.org I thought I was alone.
Thank You Pam