July 24, 2021
Massachusetts

Solar developer may remove Kingston’s Independence turbine

Kathryn Gallerani | Wicked Local | Kingston Reporter | Jul. 23, 2021 | www.wickedlocal.com

KINGSTON – The contractor that will build a solar array on the town’s capped landfill may also remove the Independence wind turbine no longer in use.

The turbine could be removed before the start of construction of the 1.8 megawatt solar array from IGS Solar of Ohio, the company that has a lease agreement with the town.

According to Town Administrator Keith Hickey, it would be much less expensive and more convenient for IGS for construction to begin without the turbine in the way.

However, he said there are other parties that have an interest in what happens, so that will factor into how it all works out.

“The town is hoping an agreement can be reached between all parties to have the turbine removed in the most economical way possible,” he said.
The Independence wind turbine may soon be in Kingston’s past.

Hickey said the turbine could be dismantled piece by piece, or it could be dropped after the blades have been removed. Installation of the solar array is anticipated to begin this summer.

The Board of Selectmen made it clear in May that the turbine was not going to be replaced and that the next step would be to look into how much it would cost to decommission and remove the Independence and the safety hazard it poses.

Selectmen voted unanimously in May against accepting an offer from Green Development, LLC of Rhode Island to replace the existing turbine that was in operation from 2012 through 2019 under the ownership of Kingston Wind Independence, LLC.

Plans for solar on the town property also date back to 2012. The town nearly had an agreement with Borrego Solar Systems Inc. to install a solar array on the site but the company withdrew its proposal after discussions with the town.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2021/07/24/solar-developer-may-remove-kingstons-independence-turbine/