July 12, 2012
Massachusetts

With turbine en route from India, LWSC wind power project ‘on schedule’

By Chris Stevens / The Daily Item | www.itemlive.com 12 July 2012

LYNN – A problem with a wind turbine in Charlestown led to some modifications for the planned turbine in Lynn, but Water and Sewer treatment operations Director Robert Tina said the project is still on schedule.

“It’s moving a little slower than I had hoped but it’s on schedule,” he said.

Ward 1 Councilor Wayne Lozzi asked Tina for an update during Monday’s Water and Sewer Commission hearing. Lozzi is the City Council’s representative on the Water and Sewer Commission, and said he is concerned about problems with the design.

“The primary delay was with the foundation design,” Tina said Monday.

However, he explained Wednesday that it was merely a modification, not a delay. The design for the turbine that is to be placed at the wastewater plant on Commercial Street is the same as the one used for the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority turbine in Charlestown. The problem is that in February that turbine began to sink.

“It’s tilted six inches,” Tina said.

Since the land in Lynn is similar to the land in Charlestown, near the Schrafft Center at 529 Main St., Tina said some changes had to be made. He said he expects the modified design plans to be completed next week.

“We just want to make sure it doesn’t happen here so we’re taking some preventative measures,” he said. “We’re going to drive pilings 144 feet right down to the solid rock bed.”

Tina acknowledged that 144 feet is extraordinarily deep but he said the land was once home to the city’s dump and he wants to make sure the turbine is set on solid ground.

As for the installation of the turbine, Tina said that is expected to go as scheduled and should be completed in September or October.

“Everything is done, all the permits are in place,” he said. “We’ve been working on this for about seven years.”

The pilings have been manufactured and are sitting at the factory in Worcester waiting for the actual turbine to arrive, which Tina said is now on a ship sailing from Chennai, India.

Once the turbine is erected, Tina said people outside of the plant likely won’t notice it. All the test models show that can’t be seen from the Lynnway, he said.

“But that’s OK,” he said. “It will fit in nicely here and I can’t wait for it to get here.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/07/12/with-turbine-en-route-from-india-lwsc-wind-power-project-on-schedule/