Topsham couple turns to wind power (Maine)

[jpak]

TOPSHAM — One couple's answer to rising energy costs stands in their backyard. It's a wind turbine on a 33-foot-high pole.

Robert and Elizabeth Hedgpeth have had the Skystream 3.7 turbine producing electricity on their Old Lisbon Road property since August. They don't think it makes much noise. Traffic on Route 196 makes more, Elizabeth Hedgpeth said.

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All Season President Bob Greig said that his company has put up 41 wind turbines around the state this year. Most have been for homes.

Although he had originally projected to do 20 sales this year, Greig said increasing energy costs have raised interest in wind power. It takes between eight and 10 years for the wind turbines to pay for themselves, based on today's energy rates.

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