SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV - Looking for alternative power sources is certainly nothing new, but for students at Shepherd University, a new wind turbine is offering a closer look at environmentally friendly ways of making electricity.

Energy is no concern for a number of classrooms at Shepherd.  The new wind turbine at the university is part of a renewable energy demonstration site consisting of photovoltaics, solar thermal hot water heating, and bio-fuels sending power to classrooms in the environmental studies department.

The entire instructional site is solely powered by these renewable energy sources and is not connected to the power grid.

Even though the windmill generates 2.2 kw an hour, Shepherd hopes that it generates more interest in renewable energy than power.

"Not only do students get classroom information on this, they get hands-on application, real world stuff.  This is the sort of thing that you would be putting on your home or outside your home on top of the hill to generate electricity to sustain you," explained Ed Snyder, the school's director of environmental studies.

The program has been underway for three years, and students are excited to learn about the alternative energy becoming available.

For individuals wanting to construct something similar on their property, the program promises to make them informed consumers.

The Shepherd University wind turbine was constructed with the help of Mountain View Solar and Thermal.