The Select Board heard a preliminary report from the Alternative Energy Committee (AEC) on Monday night. The Committee recommended the installation of two 1.65 MW Vestas wind turbines on town land in the Paskamansett Valley. The site is owned by the town for water wells and is adjacent to the waste water treatment plant which will use power from the turbines. The AEC asked to fund an interconnection study by the electric utility, NStar. The study, which costs $2500, will determine if the distribution in the area can handle the output from the turbines and detail any protective relaying equipment that the power company would require. The Select Board voted...
...to fund the interconnect study from an expense budget or Reserve Fund transfer.
As presented, the wind power project would cost between $8.5 to 10.5 million dollars and the town would realize a $550K annual savings per turbine for the 25 year life of the wind turbines. That return gives the project an 8-10 year pay back, following which time the town would realize savings.
Initiating the interconnect study moves the town one step closer to having the project ready to go if federal or state grants should become available for such alternative energy projects. Other financing methods are also possible given the favorable economic analysis of the installation.
The turbines would sit atop 80 meter (263ft) towers and have a capacity factor of 30% given a 6.5 m/s average wind regime. The 30% capacity factor means the installation's average output over a year would be 495KW per hour per turbine
The town would have to permit the machines in accordance with the recently adopted commercial wind turbine bylaw. Further study and information would be required to meet the strictures of the wind turbine bylaw specifically with regard to impacts on surrounding residents.
UPDATEA previous post on wind turbines can be found here
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Wind Power lnterconnect Study
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10 comments:
Bill, I watched the presentation of the turbine study on DCTV and am concerned about the height of these turbines. Did I hear correctly that they are 360' tall? That's a 36 story building, almost 2x the height of the Regency Towers in New Bedford. I'm concerned if that's true.
ray medeiros,no the proposed turbines are 80 meters high..263feet.
a 26 story building is what is proposed
The wind turbine to the hub is 80 meters tall (263 ft). The blades are 82 meters (269 ft) in diameter. The blades are attached at the hub, meaning the height from the ground to the top of the blade diameter is 80 meters plus 1/2 of the blade diameter of 82 meters for a total height of 121 meters(396 ft).
Thanks for the height info. The presentation was interesting but the audio was difficult to understand at times as was the map showing the proposed location. Given the height of these units do you think we should have a public meeting specifically talking about the project. It seems they have been put on the fast track now after several years of study and the general public might be interested in where they will go and their height. Thanks.
Several public hearings will be required during the permitting process for these turbines as required by our bylaws. I will post the hearing dates but none are scheduled. The project is not that far along yet.
Thanks for the info. I think I can get behind the effort although the height is a little disconcerting. From the sounds of it theis could be a reliable income stream for the town. I second the commendation given Mr DiPippo that he has invested many years of his life into saving the town money. Thank you Mr DiPippo!
Yep i already hear the NIMBY crowd forming.
Hard to say if it's NIMBY or not. From the presentation on DCTV it was all but impossible to see the map and hear the audio when the location was discussed. I have no idea where the units are to be located from what I saw on TV. Yes, if these were abutting my back yard I would have more than a casual interest in a 90 foot tall structure with rotating vanes. If its on town property somewhat distant from residences I would not have a problem with them.
typo on the height - its 390 foot structure.
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