$400,000 grant to boost wind project
Turbine planned for industrial park
GARDNER — Massachusetts Clean Energy Center CEO Alicia Barton announced Thursday that it will give a $400,000 grant to support Gardner’s development of a wind turbine at Summit Industrial Park.
“Communities across the commonwealth switching to clean energy are cutting municipal energy costs while protecting the environment,” said Ms. Barton. “We’re thrilled to partner with the city of Gardner as they continue on their path of clean energy leadership.”
The grant will help the city further develop its turbine proposal by supporting permitting and community engagement efforts, as local officials work to find a private developer to build and own the project.
The turbine project is expected to generate revenue for the city through annual lease payments and taxes.
“This is a tremendous opportunity that will help us on our way towards energy independence,” said Mayor Mark Hawke. “It makes sense for the environment and makes financial sense for the city.”
“Congratulations to the city of Gardner on receiving this award from MassCEC,” said state Sen. Jennifer Flanagan, D-Leominster. “This grant will be a major benefit for the city as they work toward building the turbine. Having clean energy in this district will be of tremendous value to current residents and future generations.”
Massachusetts has more than 100 megawatts of installed wind energy capacity, enough to power the equivalent of more than 32,000 average Massachusetts homes.
MassCEC’s Commonwealth Wind program, funded by the Renewable Energy Trust, assists the development of appropriately sited wind energy projects across the state. The program offers assistance at every stage of project development, from early site assessments to design and construction.
I'm not sure how the energy cost to a municipal would go down as Templeton's cost for wind power is reported at 30+ cents per kilowatt hour. National grids generation is at 8 cents.Without the government kickbacks and grants the windturbines don't make any "cents". Where did Templetons 400k go? Was the 400k Templeton recieved as a grant in the audit for the turbine?
ReplyDeleteHave your rates reduced any after all the cheaper energy costs the light department gets?
First question would be did Templeton receive a grant from MassCEC? Secondly, other municipalities save because they are not buying power from the utility and the city will sell the power they do not use to the publicly traded power companies, you know, them damn contractors. Templeton's wind energy costs are high because all the towns involved in Brodie mountain share costs such as PILOT payments to the towns where all those wind turbines are located and then there are the loans to pay back and such. It is known as the cost of doing business. Whether it was a smart business decision or not remains to be seen but it ain't cheap.
ReplyDeleteIf you google Brodie mountain wind you can find most of the information right on that web site and I believe it would also be easy to find out if Templeton or the district got any grants from MassCEC. Take note from that article "assist in many appropriately sited projects" perhaps Templeton was not sited correctly to get a grant from MassCEC.
ReplyDeleteJeff BennettDecember 12, 2012 at 10:15 PM
ReplyDeleteThere is a way to cut alot of expense from the light and water department. Contract out the work, one fee when you have water breaks crew comes in and fixes it. No trucks or equipment to buy, maintain or depreciate. Fewer employees again equal less long term costs as in pension and medical insurance. This will and does take work but it can be done. I had this conversation with sean hamilton a few years back about one municiple electric co who operated with no trucks, they contracted it out. Just a thought. For the rates in Templeton being cheaper, I can supply a bill from garage in Rindge NH for comparison, Templeton light is not the cheap anylonger. Buying power from the wind cooperative is expensive and someone has to pay for it (ratepayers) Please as if any of the secretaries (my bad) in Templeton make the 50K plus that the light girls do. Is that how you buy loyalty? Bribe them with high pay?
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Jeff BennettDecember 12, 2012 at 9:12 AM
ReplyDeleteNot sure what answer they gave about pilot, but on the public power page, a website you can google, it lists all the public power companies in new england then mass and it gives the fomular and the percentage of a particular number off the financial report of light co. I did the math and put it on here a while back, it came out to around $385,000.00 if I remember corectly. Anyone can check that. Perhaps Pauly can post the link for the site on here.
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ReplyDeleteFor everyones pleasure go check out how the blog use to be. 2012 was a good year and light meeting was the jack pot!
ReplyDeleteDec.12,2012 SEE Another fun night at light and water!
Same can be said for highway, contract out sweeping and basin cleaning then the laborers truck drivers could help out with repairs and maintenance on the trucks. Need an excavator for a job, hire one out for the job.
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