LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME

[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]


Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

Get weekly updates

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Paypal

Donate via Stripe

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005.

News Watch Home

Town moves one step closer to wind power 

The Town of Barrington is one step closer to a greener way of life. The council voted to approve a wind turbine project at the high school as presented at the Monday, April 7 meeting by the Committee for Renewable Energy in Barrington. The school committee opted to wait to take a vote at its April 24 meeting.

James Bride, chairman of the renewable energy committee, said he needs approval from both committees to move on to the next phase of the project, to direct the town manager to prepare a $2.4 million bond resolution for the financial town meeting in May, and launch a public outreach program.

Superintendent Robert O. McIntyre said Patrick Guida, chairman of the school committee, expressed concern over the cost of wind turbine, which changed over the course of the project from $2.1 million to $2.4 million.

Jeffrey Brenner, president of the town council and liaison to the town’s Renewable Energy Committee, said both figures came from a German-based company and the price fluctuated due to the increased value of the euro. There are companies who manufacture similar wind turbines in the United States, as well, he said.

“We might be able to reduce the proposed cost,” he said.

Mr. Bride said the committee used conservative numbers in their project.

Some school committee members, and some residents, expressed concern over the noise the wind turbine might generate.

“Anticipated noise level at the property line is equivalent to rustling leaves or nearby traffic,” Mr. Bride said.

If the project is approved, the wind turbine would be located on high school grounds near the football field and adjacent to the industrial arts area, and more than 500 feet from any residence, he said.

School committee member James Hasenfus said his main concern is whether the wind turbine will produce enough energy to power the school on a daily basis.

A consultant for the wind turbine project said there is over 40 years of data from nearby airports, power plants and coast guard stations that proves there is enough wind to power the high school day in and day out.

The consultant also pointed out that the high school is located between County and Federal roads.

“There is a lot of ambient noise in those neighborhoods to mask the wind turbine,” he said.

Why the high school?

Barrington High School is the single largest electricity user in town, said Mr. Brenner.

Current electricity costs $180,000 a year, Mr. Bride said. “Providing greatest potential for savings.”

The high school is an ideal site for the wind turbine, Mr. Bride said, because it is easy to predict how much power it needs to operate on a daily basis.

What’s next?

Mr. Bride said he needs support from the school committee in order to direct the town manager to prepare a $2.4 million bond resolution for the financial town meeting in May and generate support from a public outreach program.

The committee hopes to obtain necessary approvals and permits, and award a contract to a manufacturer in 2009. By 2010, they hope to prepare a site and build a wind turbine on the high school property.

Timeline

Barrington Town Council appointed Barrington Exploratory Wind Power Committee in early 2007.

In June 2007, the committee released a report that identified five feasible sites for a wind turbine.

The town applied for and received approval for an interest-free Clean Renewable Energy Bond in late 2007.

Around that time, the council established a permanent Renewable Energy Committee to further explore wind energy options and alternatives, and conservation measures for the town.

By Kim Centazzo

eastbayri.com

9 April 2008

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

Wind Watch relies entirely
on User Funding
   Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)
Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI TG TG Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook

Wind Watch on Linked In Wind Watch on Mastodon