Wind Turbine Feasibility/Status

From Green Needham

Summer 2010: Prepare & solicit bids; receive and evaluate responses; select vendors Late Summer/Early Fall 2010 - Installation of Met Tower; Begin taking measurements

Fall 2010: Integration of measurements into High School Environmental Science Curriculum

Formal Wind Study

The production of a formal wind study, usable for planning and funding purposes, will require the services of a professional engineer. While the formal study can only be completed and published after sufficient measurements have been taken (about a year), planning and evaluation work can begin earlier.

We are working with a professional engineering firm to design an Engineer in Residence program.

• The concept is similar to the Artist in Residence' process that resulted in the installation of the High School Lobby sculptures.
• The program would support a professional engineer working on the Wind Study to involve and engage students in the process.
• The outcome of the program would be the formal wind study analysis.
• We are just beginning to work on the design of the program.
• We will be seeking funding for the program.

Archive

May 2010:

• Town Meeting approves Articles 3 and 4 of the 2010 Annual Town Meeting warrant.

• Article 3 - Amend Zoning By-Law - Temporary Meteorological Towers
• Article 4 - Amend Zoning By-Law - Map Change to Temporary Meteorological Tower Overly District

April 2010:

• Meetings to finalize funding, tower specifications and plans for installation.

Early 2010:

• A zoning article creating an overlay district at the RTS to allow the erection of the met tower has been developed by the Planning Department
• It was presented to the Planning Board at their February 23rd meeting
• The article must be approved by Town Meeting in May

• Feburary 25th - The Massachusetts DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) responded favorably to the Town's submission, granting their approval for the erection of the MET tower on the landfill.

Summer 2009:

• Underway: Work with Lee Newman (Needham Planning Department) & Planning Board on Zoning by-law permitting Met Tower erection for May 2010 Annual Town Meeting

• Lee will begin drafting a zoning by-law narrowly defined for the Met Tower.

(Zoning to allow a turbine would be drafted later if the feasibility study is favorable)

• Public hearings will be planned for the late fall.

• Done: Meeting with Lee, Chip, Tony DelGaizo, Mario Array on completing an engineering design for the pad for the Met Tower for submission to the DEP

• Plan is complete and will be submitted to the DEP before October 1st
• DEP has 120 days to respond

• Done: Meeting with the Selectmen to seek a sense of support from the board

• Board enthusiastically support plans for wind feasibliity analysis at their August 11th meeting

• Underway: Obtain updated cost information, develop implementation plan and schedule

• August 13th meeting held to finalize plans
• See Planning notes

• Planned: Submit request for Clean Choice/Solar Challenge Funds to MTC

• Target November 15th for submission

• Planned: Publicize project and build support

• Target late fall

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