April 19, 2012
Massachusetts

Wareham Selectmen mull wind turbine proposal

By Ashleigh Bennett, GateHouse News Service, www.wickedlocal.com 19 April 2012

WAREHAM – Town officials are mulling a proposed wind turbine at the Water Pollution Control facility that would stand at around 65-80 meters, plus the blade. To get an idea of the size, the turbine at Mass Maritime is 80 meters tall.

Selectmen may OK a feasibility study on the project. Members agreed at Tuesday’s meeting to file the project to grandfather it if the turbine bylaws change at town meeting.

That way the town can still go forward with it. “We can file the paperwork, complete the study, and look at the data this way. If we don’t file and the bylaws change, we won’t have a chance to look at the research and data,” said Selectman Cara Winslow.

Wareham received a state grant for research, and a year-long study of the proposed site by Atlantic Design Engineers Inc. was recently completed that gauged wind resource data and looked at neighboring communities that use turbines.

The proposed site has adequate wind for the operation, minimal noise impacts, and moderate visual impacts, according to the results. Improvements in the technology also allow better system control, supporters say.

Atlantic Design has installed wind turbines at Narragansett Bay, and Mount Wachusett Community College, which is the first entirely green campus relying on no off-site energy. The firm is currently installing a turbine at UMass Dartmouth.

Surplus energy can be sold back into the power grid, generating revenue for the town.

If the project goes through, there’s the possibility of an up to two-thirds state reimbursement on costs.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/04/19/wareham-selectmen-mull-wind-turbine-proposal/