AGENCY VILLAGE

Sisseton Wahpeton Community College plans to erect two wind turbines to generate power, a move that will make the campus more environmentally friendly and cut electrical costs.

``We decided it would make the most economic sense to go with the wind turbines,'' said Diana Canku, the college president.

Pam Wynia, the school's director of institutional advancement, said the turbines are expected to generate 50 percent of the college's electricity and will replace a propane heating system.

She said funding came from grants, including the departments of agriculture and education, and from the Sisseton Wahpeton Tribe.

``They kind of all came together as a perfect storm,'' she said.

Canku predicted the wind turbines would be running by the end of October.

The college facilities department will maintain the turbines, but the college also hopes to develop a wind-turbine maintenance program for students to learn the new technology, Canku said.

``It's in the very preliminary stage,'' she said. ``The students see the college is changing and they are impressed. Everybody's pretty excited, the tribal community is pretty excited.''

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