November 14, 2007
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
A second proposal to build a massive coastal wind turbine appears to be in the works, even as the city council continues to debate how Quincy should regulate such projects.
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority is considering building a wind turbine at Nut Island to power its underground sewage pumping station, according to City Councilor Leo Kelly, who represents the Houghs Neck neighborhood, where the state-run plant is located.
Kelly said Sen. Michael Morrissey called several days ago to inform him the state agency had its eye on the site. No permit requests have been filed at city hall.
News of the potential development comes three months after contractor Jay Cashman applied for a permit to build a 390-foot turbine on property his company owns at the former Fore River shipyard.
The city has not issued the permit as the city council grapples with how to make room for the clean-energy projects without allowing them to become eyesores across the city. There are currently no turbines in the city.
No decisions were made Tuesday night as debate continued at a public hearing.
Ward 2 City Councilor Daniel Raymondi urged the city council to adopt a set of zoning regulations he proposed that would limit wind turbines to 265 feet, unless the planning board gave special permission.
C. Trevor Childs, a representative for Cashman, said the regulations would ‘‘effectively kill this project.’’
‘‘We’re frustrated by this; we’re confused by this,’’ Childs said.
Jack Mayo, a Quincy Point resident, told city councilors he understood the public urgency to promote clean energy, but he was concerned about the size of the turbine. He urged councilors to allow turbines only in certain areas, such as the Quarry Hills golf course.
Another resident, Bill LaRaia, said the city should seek compensation for allowing turbines to be built.
‘‘I think the citizens, especially from Quincy Point, should get a benefit from this,’’ he said.
The planning board is scheduled to discuss the proposed regulations at 7 tonight in city hall.
By John P. Kelly
14 November 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/11/14/another-quincy-wind-turbine-plan-in-the-works/