National Weather Service: Storm Prediction Center
Norman , OK
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Web site/E-mail: www.spc.noaa.gov , peggy.stogsdill@noaa.gov
Directions: From I-35 in Norman , take the Robinson Street exit east for 1.5 miles to Berry Road . Turn left and go to the t-intersection at Westheimer Drive . Turn left and go about ½ mile. The Storm Prediction Center is on the left.
Access: Tours by appointment only, governed by National Threat Levels and security procedures; no cost for the tours; e-mail or 405-579-0707
GPS Coordinates: N35°14'14.0”, W97°27'45.3”
Site Description: In the world of wind, Norman , OK is the center of the universe. NOAA's Storm Prediction Center provides forecasts and watches for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes over the contiguous United States . It also monitors heavy rain, heavy snow, and fire weather events across the U.S. and issues specific products for those hazards. They use the most advanced technology and scientific methods available to achieve this goal. The center's forecast products are used by local National Weather Service offices, emergency managers, TV and radio meteorologists, private weather forecasting companies, the aviation industry, storm spotters, agriculture, educational institutions, and many other groups. Visitors can see the nation's foremost storm forecasters at work at their operations center, and learn how wind and other atmospheric conditions lead to severe weather.
Bergey Wind Power
Web Site/E-Mail: www.bergey.com/ , swilke@bergey.com
Norman , OK
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Directions : From I35, take Exit 110B/Robinson St. East to Flood St./Hwy 77, go north (left) to Rock Creek Rd., then east (right) to Industrial Blvd. which is just across the railroad tracks, Continue south (right) to 2200 Industrial Blvd., a large building on the right side with a blue band around the top. Entry is from the south side of Industrial Blvd. Look for the wind turbines!
Access: Free, self-guided tours daily. Factory tours by appointment, M-F. E-mail or phone 405-364-4212
Site Description: Bergey Windpower is the world's leading supplier of small wind turbines. With installations in all 50 States and more than 90 countries, Bergey is generally recognized as the best and most experienced small wind turbine maker in the world. But more than that, Bergey makes wind fun…visitors to the new manufacturing facility will have the opportunity to watch the entire process whereby “small wind” turbines are born. People choose home wind generators for a variety of reasons: rebates from their electric company, inability to connect to the power grid due to remote location, reduction of electric bills, pumping water, powering a remote village, powering a telecom site, stabilizing energy supply in areas that suffer from prolonged outages, environmentalism, or just a simple desire to have more energy choices. Visitors to the plant will get an inside look at how home wind generators work, what they can reasonably be expected to do…and what they can't. The tours are exciting, informative, and may very well lead to a wind generator of your very own.
