LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME

[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]


Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

Get weekly updates

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Paypal

Donate via Stripe

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005.

News Watch Home

Voters approve expanding use of landfill site to include wind energy 

Credit:  By Jason Graziadei, I&M Senior Writer, www.ack.net 7 April 2011 ~~

Major decisions associated with the town’s effort to install wind turbines at the Madaket landfill – most notably an appropriation as high as $7.2 million to build them – were put on hold this year, but Town Meeting voters did approve an incremental step forward for the project in Article 44.

The real estate proposal to expand the purpose of the landfill site off Madaket Road to include the development of wind energy was approved by voters Monday night on a majority voice vote. It was one of three articles associated with the project put forward by the Board of Selectmen when the Town Meeting warrant was drafted, but the other two, including the appropriation in Article 45 and a proposed wind energy overlay district in Article 46, were both punted to a later date as proponents continue to work out the details of the ambitious project.

At this point in the planning process, the Energy Study Committee, town administration and project consultants are moving forward with the concept for two 900-kilowatt wind turbines, capable of offsetting $250,000 to $400,000 of the town’s annual electricity usage, even after yearly operating and debt services costs are covered. The two smaller turbines would likely rise up to 350 feet above the ground, far larger and more productive than Nantucket High School’s 156-foot Northwind 100 turbine, a 100-kilowatt model.

The electricity generated by the two turbines would be used directly at the landfill to power the digester machine and the rest of the operation, with any excess energy sold back into the grid as it will be interconnected to National Grid distribution system through so-called “net metering,” but only if the project can qualify for the company’s program. The electric bills at the landfill are paid by the town, not its operator Waste Options. In the last fiscal year, the town paid National Grid and its supplier, Constellation, over $395,000 to purchase electricity for the landfill.

Some Madaket residents questioned moving forward with Article 44 on Monday given the still developing plans for the turbines, ongoing impact studies, and continuing community outreach efforts.

“This whole question of wind energy at the Madaket landfill seems to be a moving target, with changes in the position of the town,” said Madaket Homeowners Association president Charles Stott. “I suggest we wait and consider it with a package of other articles.”

Source:  By Jason Graziadei, I&M Senior Writer, www.ack.net 7 April 2011

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

Wind Watch relies entirely
on User Funding
   Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)
Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI TG TG Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook

Wind Watch on Linked In Wind Watch on Mastodon