greensburg-kansas: Greensburg, Kansas, USA
Greensburg Wind Farm has ten 1.25-MW wind turbines. Oil wells and pumps are found throughout the area.
After a tornado destroyed 95% of the town in May of 2007, the people of Greensburg committed to rebuilding and making Greensburg the greenest town in America. Many measures have been taken to ensure that all new construction be green and energy efficient. To further promote the green community, the Greensburg Wind Farm was constructed to provide the town with "100% renewable energy, 100% of the time." The people feel that it is a perfect solution; the force that once destroyed the town will be used to power its future. The project allows Greensburg to be a model green community with all of its homes and businesses being powered by renewable energy.
“Greensburg: Better, Stronger, Greener!”
On May 4, 2007, an EF5 tornado cut a 1.7-mile path of destruction through Greensburg, Kansas. Winds reaching speeds of 205 miles per hour uprooted trees, demolished homes and leveled the town. Eleven people died and 95% of the buildings were destroyed beyond repair. Residents have since worked furiously to rebuild it in a way that is both economically and environmentally sustainable and to meet the highest environmental standards. Greensburg, whose population has dropped from about 1400 to 800 following the storm and is now growing again, is currently the greenest town in America and the first in the United States to pass a resolution to certify that all city-owned buildings earn LEED Platinum accreditation, the highest level of the LEED rating system.
Photo © Stefan Falke
