18 WIND ENERGY PROJECTS RECEIVE $2.6 MILLION IN GRANTS FROM MASSACHUSETTS CLEAN ENERGY CENTER

18 WIND ENERGY PROJECTS RECEIVE $2.6 MILLION IN GRANTS FROM MASSACHUSETTS CLEAN ENERGY CENTER

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) today announced grants supporting 18 new wind energy projects under the Commonwealth Wind Community-Scale Wind initiative.

“These grants will allow communities and institutions to reduce their use of fossil fuels, as well as help the Commonwealth reach Governor Patrick’s goal of developing 2,000 megawatts of wind power capacity by 2020,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles, who serves as chairman of MassCEC’s board of directors.

The MassCEC board of directors approved the grants totaling more than $2.6 million. Today’s awards includes design and construction grants for six new wind projects totaling more than 12.2 megawatts (MW) in capacity, and 12 feasibility studies for wind energy that would total more than 23 MW in capacity if built. The 18 grants go to public and private projects, cities and towns, and the Massachusetts Military Reservation. The Commonwealth Wind Community-Scale Wind initiative is a program of MassCEC’s Renewable Energy Generation division, which is funded by renewable energy charges on electric bills, generating roughly $23 million a year to support renewable energy installations and companies.

“MassCEC’s Community-Scale Wind initiative is helping towns and communities throughout the Commonwealth lessen their dependence on fossil fuels by supporting the installation of wind turbines for private and public institutions as well as studies to determine the feasibility of wind power in additional locations,” said MassCEC’s Executive Director of Renewable Energy Generation Director Carter Wall.

The six projects receiving design and construction grants are in Scituate, Nantucket, Florida, Boston, and at the Massachusetts Military Reservation on Cape Cod. Awards for the 12 feasibility studies go to the towns of Douglas, Duxbury, Hamilton, Swampscott, Millbury, Weymouth and Winchendon, the cities of Gloucester and Fall River, and private developers in Savoy, Cohasset and Westminster.

Following Commonwealth Solar – the first MassCEC program defined by technology type – Commonwealth Wind is MassCEC’s grant program that support wind energy projects. Commonwealth Wind’s Community-Scale initiative supports wind projects of at least 100 kilowatts in size; its Micro-Wind initiative provides rebates for the installation of wind projects of up to 100 kilowatts, typically for residential, small commercial or agricultural sites.

The goal of the Commonwealth Wind Incentive Program is to assist responsibly-sited wind energy projects of all scales in achieving successful and timely installations, while also supporting Governor Patrick’s goal of having 2,000 megawatts (MW) of wind power capacity installed in the Commonwealth by 2020. 

Details of the grants can be found below.

Feasibility Study Grants

Town of  Douglas - will investigate the feasibility of developing a 1.5 MW wind turbine on the Douglas Public Schools Campus, which includes the town high school, intermediate elementary school and elementary school.  The town plans to use the electricity onsite at the high school and to net meter any remaining electricity to the other two schools.
The Douglas School District is committed to integrating renewable energy into the curriculum and intends for this project to provide a hands-on opportunity for students to learn about wind power.

This feasibility study will include wind monitoring, wind resource analysis, financial projections, a permitting plan and an acoustic study.

Project Type: Public 
Technology: 1.5 MW Wind Turbine 
Award: $85,000 

Town of Duxbury will explore opportunities for wind development on municipally-owned property that includes the Town Hall, Transfer Station, DPW Facility and the North Hill Country Club.  The town will also investigate the potential for a project at Duxbury High School.  This study will help determine the best location and size for a town-owned wind project. 

This feasibility study will include wind resource analysis, financial projections, a permitting plan and an acoustic study.

Project Type: Public 
Technology: 600 to 900 kW Wind Turbine 
Award: $65,000 
  

 The City of Fall River is pursuing a wind project with a total capacity between 3.6 MW to 10.8 MW. The city plans to net meter the electricity generated to various city-owned buildings including public schools, the City Hall building, and the sewage treatment plant. At maximum capacity, the city expects to produce 26,400 MWhs annually, which would meet nearly 100 percent of the electricity demand of the city’s 30 largest facilities.

This feasibility study will include wind monitoring, wind resource analysis, financial projections, environmental analysis, and a communications interference study.

Project Type: Public 
Location: Copicut Hill in Fall River, MA 
Technology:  Two to Six 1.8 MW Wind Turbines 
Award: $77,121 

 The City of Gloucester will investigate the technical feasibility and the business planning aspects of installing an approximately 1.5MW utility-scale turbine to help offset electricity demand and rising energy costs. The city selected the Blackburn Water Tower site for potential wind development due to its strong wind resource, the buffer from residential areas, and the robust electric distribution system for interconnection.  The city estimates that the project will produce 3,800,000 kWhs annually.
 
This feasibility study will include a wind resource analysis, financial projections, environmental analysis and a permitting plan.

Project Type: Public 
Location: Blackburn Industrial Park in Gloucester, MA
Technology: 1.5 MW Wind Turbine 
Award: $50,130 
  

 The Town of Hamilton is exploring the potential for wind development on its 52-acre former landfill site.  The town will conduct a feasibility study with onsite wind analysis and will evaluate the possibility of a Power Purchase Agreement and net metering electricity to municipal buildings.

This feasibility study will include wind monitoring, a wind resource analysis, financial projections, environmental analysis and a permitting plan.

Project Type: Public 
Location: Landfill in Hamilton, MA 
Technology: 1.5  to 2.0 MW Wind Turbine 
Award: $83,000 
  

 LZ Wind LLC is investigating the feasibility of a 900 kW wind project at the Good Shepherd Farm in Savoy, MA. The turbine is to be erected on land leased by LZ Wind LLC from the owners of the 45 acre farm.  LZ Wind LLC plans to bring renewable energy to the Town of Savoy and is pursuing residential, commercial and municipal entities as possible net metering candidates.

This feasibility study will include wind monitoring, a wind resource analysis, financial projections, environmental analysis and a permitting plan.

Project Type: Private 
Location: Savoy, MA 
Technology: 900 kW Wind Turbine 
Award: $55,000 
  

The Town of Millbury is pursuing the development of one or more wind turbines on the town-owned Butler Farm property. The town will study the technical and economic feasibility of installing at least one turbine with a capacity of 600 kW to 2 MW.  The town plans to use the energy generated to offset electricity costs at various municipal buildings through net metering.

This feasibility study will include wind monitoring, wind resource analysis, financial projections, a permitting plan and an acoustic study.

Project Type: Public 
Location: Butler Farm in Millbury, MA 
Technology: 600 kW to 2 MW Wind Turbine 
Award: $85,000 
  

 The Town of Swampscott will explore the feasibility of developing a 600 kW wind project on land adjacent to the Swampscott Middle School’s athletic fields.  The site is on town-owned land, adjacent to the Middle School and its accompanying open athletic fields.

The study will include wind monitoring, wind resource analysis, financial projections, a permitting plan and an acoustic study.

Project Type: Public 

Technology: 600 kW Wind Turbine 
Award: $75,000 
  
(Cohasset) The Trustees of Reservations will conduct a feasibility study to explore the options for wind development on their 824 acres of conservation land known as Whitney Thayer Woods and Weir River Farm. They have selected the Turkey Hill site, the highest point on this land, as having the best potential for a wind project.

The Trustees expect that this project will help the organization meet its goal of reducing their carbon footprint to zero by 2017. They also plan to demonstrate the greater potential for appropriately-sited renewable energy generation facilities on conservation lands. 

The study will include wind monitoring, wind resource analysis, financial projections, a permitting plan and an acoustic study.

Project Type: Non-profit 
Location: Turkey Hill in Cohasset, MA 
Technology: 1.5 MW Wind Turbine 
Award: $45,000 
  

The Town of Weymouth is investigating the possibility of a 1.5 MW wind project as part of the town’s comprehensive efforts to reduce energy costs for municipal buildings and to increase the Town’s use of renewable energy.  The town selected the High School as the best site due to the large onsite load, the quality of the wind resource, and the relative ease of development at this site.  The town expects that this wind project will provide 100 percent of the School’s electricity needs.

The study will include wind monitoring, wind resource analysis, financial projections, a permitting plan and an acoustic study.

Project Type: Public 
Location: Weymouth High School 
Technology: 1.5 MW Wind Turbine 
Award: $85,000 
  

 Whitmanville Farm will investigate the feasibility of a 600 kW wind project on its own property in Westminster. The farm has worked with the Town of Westminster to set aside an 11-acre exclusion on existing conservation land for wind project development.  The aim of the project is to reduce utility costs for the farm and to deliver any excess generation to municipal buildings through net metering.

This feasibility study will include a wind resource analysis, financial projections, environmental analysis and a permitting plan.

Project Type: Private 
Location: Whitmanville Farm in Westminster, MA 
Technology: 600 kW Wind Turbine 
Award: $25,752 
  

 The Town of Winchendon is conducting a feasibility study for a 600 kW to 2 MW wind turbine as part of their ongoing effort to become a Green Community in the Commonwealth. The study will explore options for development at the proposed Hillview Business Park.  Since there will be no onsite load at this location, the town intends to net-meter the wind turbine to various town buildings.

This feasibility study will include wind monitoring, a wind resource analysis, financial projections, environmental analysis and a permitting plan.

Project Type: Public 
Location: Hillview Business Park in Winchendon, MA
Technology: 600 kW – 2MW Wind Turbine 
Award: $74,681 
  

Design and Construction Grants

US Air Force Center For Engineering and the Environment (AFCEE) The US Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment is proceeding with the design and construction of a 6 MW wind project at the Massachusetts Military Reservation on Cape Cod.  The electricity produced will be net-metered to the various ground water treatment plants to meet the high electricity demand of ground water remediation.  This project will significantly reduce operating costs of these facilities and will reduce the emissions associated with the electricity used to run the treatment systems.

 
Project Type: Public 
Location: Cape Cod 
Technology: Up to three 2 MW Wind Turbines
Award: $260,000 
  

 Scituate Wind LLC will construct a 1.5 MW Wind Turbine on municipally-owned land in order to provide clean electricity to the Town of Scituate.  The electricity generated from this project will be used onsite at the Waste Water Treatment Plant. Any additional production will be net-metered to other municipal buildings.

Scituate Wind LLC, a joint venture between Solaya Energy LLC and Palmer Capital Corporation, has entered into a 15-year Power Purchase Agreement with the Town of Scituate, whereby the Town has agreed to lease the land to and purchase all of the electricity from the private developer, who will own and operate the turbine.  Scituate Wind LLC is the first project in the Commonwealth to pursue a wind turbine through the third-party ownership model. 

Project Type: Third-Party Ownership  
Location: Waste Water Treatment Plant in Scituate, MA 
Technology: 1.5 MW Wind Turbine 
Award: $400,000 
  

 Quabbin Wind LLC will build a 1.5 MW Wind Turbine on land leased from a private resident in Florida, MA.  According to the project owners, the 46-acre site was selected due to its strong wind resource, setbacks from residents and property lines, and absence of environmental and wildlife concerns.  Quabbin Wind LLC has obtained a 20-year lease from the land owner and is pursuing net metering arrangements with specific Worcester-based businesses.

Quabbin Wind is following a unique development model that has potential for replication in the future.  In addition to benefitting the private developer and the property owner, this project will also help the Town of Florida in its effort to become a Green Community in the Commonwealth.

Project Type: Private  
Location: Florida, MA 
Technology: 1.5 MW Wind Turbine 
Award: $240,000 
  

 The City of Boston will construct a 1.6 MW Wind Turbine on land owned by Boston, but located in the City of Quincy.  This project will provide clean electricity onsite to the  Boston Fire Department Training Academy and any excess electricity will be net-metered to other city-owned buildings.

Boston feels that the Moon Island site is a good location for wind development due to its strong wind resource and its distance from residents.  The city also plans to incorporate the turbine into educational and outreach programs for Boston students and residents.

Project Type: Public 
Location: Moon Island in Quincy, MA 
Technology: 1.6 MW Wind Turbine 
Award: $400,000 
  

Nantucket High School. Nantucket Public Schools will construct a 100 kW Wind Turbine at the Nantucket High School to provide clean energy to the school and to serve as an educational tool for students to learn about renewable energy.  The school estimates that the turbine will meet 13 to 14 percent of their annual electricity demand.

The school will use this project to teach students about wind energy technology and to demonstrate how renewable energy can reduce the school’s carbon footprint. The school is currently developing curriculum to coincide with the installation of the turbine.

Project Type: Public  
Location: Nantucket High School in Nantucket, MA 

Technology: 100 kW Wind Turbine 
Award: $165,000 
  

The Town of Nantucket will build a 1.5 MW Turbine at the Nantucket Department of Public Works Compound.  The project, known as the Madaket Wind Turbine Facility, will be either owned by the town or privately operated.  The DPW site has strong winds, consists of previously disturbed land, and has a large onsite load.  The town plans to use the majority of electricity generated onsite and will net meter any excess energy to other municipal buildings.

Project Type: Public 
Location: Department of Public Works Compound in Nantucket, MA 

Technology: 1.5 MW Wind Turbine 
Award: $390,000 
  

Created by the Green Jobs Act of 2008, MassCEC’s mission is to foster growth of the Massachusetts clean energy industry through seed grants to companies, universities, and nonprofit organizations; job training programs; and workforce development grants. MassCEC is also home to the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust, which supports the installation of renewable energy technologies with funds provided by small renewable energy charges on electric bills.

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