Two more New England towns seek municipal wind turbines (RI and MA)

[jpak]

Citizen panel to study wind power

http://www.projo.com/ri/barrington/content/EB_BARRWIND16_01-16-07_IA3UACI.307ffc4.html

BARRINGTON RI — Following in the paths of Portsmouth and Bristol, Barrington officials will investigate whether to use wind power to provide power for municipal buildings.

The Town Council agreed this month to advertise for people who would like to serve on the Wind Power Exploratory Committee.

Jeffrey Brenner, the council president, said that after a presentation by Lefteris Pavlides, a Roger Williams University professor and wind energy expert and advocate, some council members wondered whether the alternative power source on a limited scale could save on electrical expenses.

“We’re not talking about a wind farm with multiple turbines,” Brenner cautioned at the council’s Jan. 8 meeting. Rather, he said that if the town were to use wind power, it might be one turbine.

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Voters to decide turbine purchase

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/01-07/01-16-07/04local.htm

WESTPORT MA — Town Meeting voters in May will be asked to allocate more than $100,000 to purchase and construct twin wind turbines behind Town Hall and the police station.

The 100-foot towers each would take up the equivalent of about one parking space behind the municipal buildings on Main Road.

The turbines are expected to cost $54,000 each, but according to a report from the town's Alternative Energy Committee would pay for themselves in four years or less.

The cost of the turbines could be partially reimbursable with a grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, the committee learned. Grants of more than $42,000 per wind turbine are available.

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[GreenPartyVoter]

1. They should also be putting solar shingles on their roofs.