Duxbury Receives Windmill Study Grant
Reprinted from the Duxbury Clipper
Town gets windmill study grant
Written by Justin Graeber
Thursday, 17 June 2010 10:23
Duxbury has reached an important next step in the push to bring a municipal wind turbine to town.
The Mass. Clean Energy Center (formerly known as the Mass. Technology Collaborative) granted Duxbury $65,000 to fund a full feasibility study, according to Duxbury Alternative Energy Committee member Jim Goldenberg.
The center had initially given Duxbury a grant for a site assessment, which identified some locations in town where a windmill could conceivably be located –– including the land between the DPW yard behind town hall and North Hill, which committee members say is the most likely spot.
“The conclusion of that study was that there were in fact some possibilities for a wind turbine in Duxbury,” said Goldenberg. “This is the second stage of our feasibility efforts.”
Sustainable Energy Developments, or SED, the company that helped Duxbury prepare the grant application, will be conducting the study. Goldenberg said the group will look at more specific factors such as wind speed, acoustics, transportation and interconnect issues.
He said this is the stage where a temporary measuring tower, known as a MET tower, may be used, but that hasn’t been determined yet. Within the next couple of weeks, the town and SED should be signing the contract for the study. The study itself may take up to a year.
Voters at this year’s annual Town Meeting passed a bylaw that paves the way for a municipally-owned windmill, but it may still be years before one gets built. The bylaw merely outlines the process, which is through a special permit granted by the Planning Board. Even if the feasibility study shows a municipal turbine is a possibility in Duxbury, financing would still need to be obtained, either through Town Meeting or a third party. Duxbury could be eligible for additional grants if the windmill reaches the construction phase.
“We’re all excited that we received the grant. It speaks to the applicability of this kind of a thing in Duxbury,” said Goldenberg.
Wind power can provide Duxbury with significant savings in its annual electricity costs. A $1.25 million investment in a wind turbine would yield $150,000 in annual savings and would be paid back in approximately six years, according to the group’s Web site, duxburywind.com.
Duxbury Town Meeting approves both AEC Warrants
[March 15,2010]Duxbury moves forward in quest for municipal Wind Turbine..
Duxbury Finance Committee endorses Wind Town Articles
[Feb. 2,2010]The Duxbury Finance Committee after a meeting with the AEC has lent its support to our efforts..
Duxbury Planning Board Endorses Wind Town Articles
[1.25.2010]At a public hearing on Monday, January 25th at the Senior Center, the Town of Duxbury Planning Board endorsed the Alternative Engergy Committee's proposed Bylaw Amendment that will be presented to the voters at Town Meeting. The Duxbury Clipper reporting of the meeting can be read here.
Duxbury Alternative Energy Committee has received the Preliminary Survey of Potential Wind Project Sites in the Town of Duxbury, Massachusetts
[Oct. 27,2009]The report dated October 27, 2009 can be read here in its entirety.
Duxbury Board of Selectmen Endorses Town Articles
At the open meeting of the Board of Selectman on December 21, 2009 the Duxbury Board of Selectmen endorsed the AEC proposed town bylaw to allow a municipal scale wind facility that will be presented for a vote at Town Meeting. .
The Alternative Energy Committee is an Ad-Hoc committee appointed by the Board of Selectmen to advise the Town Manager and Board of Selectmen in identifying ways to help control the escalating costs of energy in the Town of Duxbury.
Our charge from the selectmen:
1. Work with Town staff to develop a reporting system to benchmark current energy usage by the Town.
2. Identify potential ways of reducing energy usage and costs. Methods of reducing energy costs may include conservation, technical improvements, monitoring, cogeneration, alternative sources of power generation such as wind and solar, and hybrid technologies.
3. Propose targets for reduction of energy usage and help town staff develop an action plan to achieve these targets.
4. Advise the Town Manager and Board of Selectmen during development of budget articles relating to alternative energy strategies. Work may include proposing by-law changes to allow for construction of new technologies.
5. Identify and assist the Town Manager with applications for grant opportunities and other non-tax methods of funding proposed projects.
6. Keep the public informed as to the progress of the committee‘s efforts by reporting periodically to the Board of Selectmen and holding public information meetings.
A Bridge to a Cleaner Future