June 27, 2014
New Hampshire

Company behind Groton wind plant promotes emergency plan

By DAN SEUFERT, Union Leader Correspondent | June 26, 2014 | www.unionleader.com

GROTON – Saying it contiues to work with state officials to meet state standards and avoid a shutdown of its Groton Wind plant, Iberdrola Renewables has announced that its emergency plan is complete.

The 26-page plan is being considered by the state’s Site Evaluation Committee, which has threatened to pull the plant’s operating certificate because of complaints from the state Fire Marshal’s Office and other state agencies that the company built the plant without all required permits.

Among many items requested of the plant by the fire marshal was an emergency plan.

Iberdrola’s Paul Copleman said the plan has been accepted by the state Fire Marshal’s Office, and it is designed to fit Groton’s needs.

“Each location has its own unique set of circumstances, including state and local requirements. This plan reflects those circumstances for the Groton community,” Copleman said.

The plan is detailed with directions for specific company employees for emergency situations, and has lists of emergency vehicles and roads, and details emergency procedures and inspection needs for Groton Wind’s 24-turbine plant, which went online in December 2012.

It also includes a “fire watch” plan to keep an eye out for fires.Iberdrola officials said they are fulfilling a compliance agreement reached with the fire marshal in May.

“We’re working very hard to reasonably and responsibly fulfill the agreement we reached with the office of the fire marshal. To date, the suppression system was inspected, and as a result, the 24/7 fire watch was concluded.”

Attorneys for the state Attorney General’s Office are seeking judgment from the SEC on Groton Wind’s so-called “O&M” Building, which was moved from its original building site without proper state notifications, according to the attorney general, who could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Iberdrola officials say they have addressed that issue.

“The O&M building has been re-inspected, all required modifications have been made, and all document requests have been submitted. We continue to work with the office of the fire marshal to ensure that all items contained in the compliance agreement are closed out to their satisfaction,” Copleman said in a statement.

“Public safety is our top priority at the nearly 60 sites we operate across the country.

[rest of article available at source]


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/06/27/company-behind-groton-wind-plant-promotes-emergency-plan/