September 7, 2007
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Sen. Brian Joyce would like to see a giant wind turbine sitting atop a peak within the Blue Hills Reservation that could produce enough energy to power 1,500 homes.
Joyce (D-Milton) has contacted Gov. Deval Patrick’s office about exploring the possibility of putting at least one 335-foot-tall turbine within the state reservation, whose tallest peak is the Great Blue Hill in Milton. Joyce said the wind turbine could theoretically power the ski area and observatory within the reservation.
“I’m intrigued by the idea of a turbine at Blue Hills,” said Joyce, whose district covers the reservation. “I believe Massachusetts should be a global leader for clean energy technology and the benefits of such a project could potentially be tremendous for the Blue Hills and the adjacent community.”
As envisioned, one turbine would generate about 1.5 megawatts of power at full capacity – or enough energy to provide electricity to 1,500 homes. The blades of the turbine could stretch 120 feet from tip to tip.
A giant turbine can cost between $2 million and $3 million each to install.
Bob Keough, a spokeswoman for Patrick’s Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, said Joyce’s idea is only in the “very preliminary stage” of being discussed and no formal plan is on the table yet. Another meeting with Joyce and administration officials will be held next week.
The Blue Hills idea is just the latest windmill proposal in Massachusetts.
Government officials are eying the possibility of putting wind turbines on some Boston Harbor islands, while a number of communities are looking at installing windmills in their towns.
The biggest proposal is also the state’s most controversial: Cape Wind Associate’s push to build 130 wind turbines in the waters off Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
That plan is bitterly opposed by some and enthusiastically supported by others.
By Jay Fitzgerald
7 September 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/09/07/great-blue-hill-windmill-senator-sees-turbine-on-summit/