Woodstock resident makes news with wind turbine

SUSTAINABLE LIVING

By Merry MacKinnon

The Bee, Apr 4, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Woodstock resident Brad Malsin and inventor Toby Kincaid unveiled a micro wind turbine at Portland State University at the end of February. Malsin, known for his commercial development, including the East Bank Commerce Center, is also CEO of Oregon Wind Corporation

Photo courtesy Portland State University Office of Sustainability

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Looking like a warped piece of fluorescent green plastic, an unusual “micro wind turbine” was unveiled at the end of February at Portland State University by Woodstock resident Brad Malsin, and his business partner Toby Kinkaid.

Malsin, the head of Beam Development, which owns the East Bank Commerce Center, and Kinkaid, an inventor, are the driving force behind “Oregon Wind Corporation”, which is launching its vertical, propeller-less wind turbine.

Originally from New York, Woodstock resident Malsin introduced himself to the packed audience as someone who moved to Portland, and then founded Oregon Wind Corporation, because he felt Portland was more receptive to new ideas and new technology.

“I have relatives in New York,” he said. “When I tell them I drive a biodiesel car, they think I'm crazy,” Malsin said. “We’re spending a lot of time and money trying to do things here that people elsewhere have dismissed.”

In the public-private partnership announced on February 27th, Portland State University has become the urban testing ground for this new wind technology. The turbines will be installed at four locations on campus, with engineers monitoring the turbines’ performance. They will measure wind speed, humidity, temperature, altitude, and generated electricity output.

According to Kincaid, the “Helyx Wind Generator” is ideal technology, because birds can see--and thus avoid--its brightly-colored, wide-revolving surface. “It’s also silent, costs much less than solar panels, can be shipped, resists corrosion, and is easy to maintain,” he said.

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