Wind Energy: Renewable Energy and the Environment

Vaughn Nelson, PhD, has been involved with renewable energy, primarily wind energy, since the early 70's, is the author of 5 books and 4 CDs, has published over 50 articles and reports, was the principal investigator on numerous grants, and has given over 60 workshops and seminars from the local to international level. Primary work has been on wind resource assessment, education and training, applied R&D, and rural applications of wind energy. Presently he is a retired from West Texas A&M University (WTAMU). He was director of Alternative Energy Institute (AEI) from its inception in 1977 through 2003 and then returned for another year in July 2009. He retired as Dean of the Graduate School, Research and Information Technology, WTAMU in 2001. He served on State of Texas Committees, most notable the Texas Energy Coordination Council during its 11 years. He has received three awards from the American Wind Energy Association, one of which was the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003, received an award as a Texas Wind Legend in 2010 from the Texas Renewable Industries Association and in 2013 received an award for Outstanding Wind Leadership in Education from Wind Powering America. He served on the board of directors for state and national renewable energy organizations. From material developed for regular and online courses on wind energy, Dr. Nelson wrote Wind Energy, (2009, 2nd Ed., 2013, with Starcher 3rd Ed., 2019 and now this 4th Ed, 2026); Introduction to Renewable Energy (2011, with Starcher, 2nd Ed. 2015, 3rd Ed. 2025); with Starcher, Introduction to Bioenergy (2016); Innovative Wind Turbines, An Illustrated Guidebook (2020); and Wind Farm Photos (2021).

Dr. Nelson degrees include a PhD in physics from the University of Kansas, an EdM from Harvard University and a BSE from Kansas State Teachers College, Emporia. He was at the Departamento de Fisica, Universidad de Oriente, Cumana, Venezuela for two years and then at WTAMU from 1969 to 2003. Besides writing books after retirement, he started quilting in 2006 and by 2025 he had made over 300 quilts. With his wife, Beth, some of their quits were exhibited at the Bosque Museum, Nelson + Nelson: Where Science Meets Art. Of course, hers were the art quilts. A few of our quilts were in two separate exhibitions at the Texas Quilt Museum.

Kenneth Starcher began his college career and renewable involvement the same semester, fall, 1976. It led to a BS in physics/computer Science at West Texas State University (1980). In 1980-81 he took courses in electrical engineering, electronics, and physics at Texas Tech University. He earned an MS in Engineering Technology. at WTAMU in 1995, and then took some courses in agricultural economics at WTAMU.

Starcher has been a field worker for most of the projects at AEI since 1980. He has been the educational funnel for on-site training and public information for students and public workshops for AEI. He has served as a trainer at wind and solar training workshops locally, nationally, and internationally. He has served as a Research Technician, Research Associate, Assistant Director, Director, and Associate Director (Training, Education and Outreach) for AEI over the past 38 years. AEI was terminated in 2015.

He served as a board member of the American Wind Energy Association, was on the Executive Board of Class 4 Winds and Renewables, was chosen as the Individual Member of the year for Texas Renewable Energy Association in 2005, the Small Wind Educator at the Small Wind Conference in 2010, and awarded an Outstanding Wind Leadership Education Award from Wind Powering America, 2013.

Starcher has installed and operated more than 85 different renewable energy systems, ranging in scale from 50 watt to 500 kW. He has served as a consultant for wind companies in the United States and produced wind resources maps for counties, states, and Thailand and Honduras.