April 1, 2011
Massachusetts

Dartmouth wind energy project lands $400,000 grant

By Don Cuddy, www.southcoasttoday.com 1 April 2011By Don Cuddy, www.southcoasttoday.com 1 April 2011

DARTMOUTH – Plans to install two wind turbines at Dartmouth’s water treatment facility on Chase Road received a boost Thursday with the announcement that the town has been awarded $400,000 for design and construction from the Commonwealth Wind Community Scale Wind Initiative.

Dartmouth’s award was by far the largest among seven grants, totaling more than $700,000, handed out by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to support wind energy projects.

“With two dozen wind turbines already in place across the state, Massachusetts communities and businesses clearly recognize the important role wind power has to play in the clean energy future Governor Patrick envisions for the commonwealth,” said Richard Sullivan, energy and environmental affairs secretary, in a press release. Sullivan also serves as chairman of MassCEC’s board of directors.

The Wind Incentive Program is intended to support the goal of having 2,000 megawatts of wind power capacity up and running by 2020, according to the statement.

In January 2010, Dartmouth Town Meeting approved floating $9.5 million in bonds to fund the turbine project. But the town still faces opposition to the 1.6-megawatt industrial turbines. Residents who live close to the town-owned property have filed litigation.

Also Thursday, Sullivan’s office announced that Dartmouth would receive $31,000 from the Coastal Pollution Remediation Grant Program to help reduce stormwater contamination.

Outfalls on Rogers Street currently allow untreated stormwater to flow directly into Clarks Cove, contributing to elevated levels of bacteria. The grant requires a match of $8,340 from the town. Funding will cover a feasibility study, in cooperation with New Bedford, to design a remediation system.

Meanwhile, the city of New Bedford will receive $21,325 with a match amount of $9,167 to design and permit a commercial pump-out facility to service approximately 500 vessels in New Bedford Harbor.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/04/01/dartmouth-wind-energy-project-lands-400000-grant/