The Renewable Energy Wind Power Committee presented its final report to selectmen Wednesday, recommending that the town consider building a single, municipally operated 600 kilowatt wind turbine in the Orleans Watershed, at Site 1, near the old swamp.

ORLEANS - The Renewable Energy Wind Power Committee presented its final report to selectmen Wednesday, recommending that the town consider building a single, municipally operated 600 kilowatt wind turbine in the Orleans Watershed, at Site 1, near the old swamp. This is the same location as the test tower, and the hilltop has been cleared.

Committee members said they'd like the water department to operate it.

"A financial feasibility study concluded it is a viable project for Site 1," said committee chairman Alan Kolchinsky. "It could be up and running by July of 2012."

The turbine would cost around $2.3 million to install. The height would be 274 feet if a Vestas 660KW is used or 389 feet if a GE 1.5 MW is utilized.

The committee also identified five other potential turbine locations in the watershed as well as potential sites at the cloverleafs of Route 6, town lots off Giddiah Hill Road (near the industrial park), the Tri-Town Septage Facility, the landfill and at the Orleans Elementary School. However, setback requirements eliminated all but the cloverleafs and watershed.
(The cloverleafs are owned by the state, which may build its own turbines without any town input.)

The committee also recommended Orleans consider photovoltaic cells when doing any new construction, as well as considering installing them on the council on aging building. Any array should be less than 15,000 watts.

Kolchinsky suggested Orleans should join the Cape and Vineyard Electric Cooperative and retain a committee dedicated to renewable energy. Selectmen voted to retain the current committee through September.

The CVEC can build and operate alternative energy sources, providing 90 percent of the power to the host town and the remaining 10 percent to the co-op.

Web link: http://www.wickedlocal.com/orleans/town_info/government/x1662358335/Fourth-of-July-Parade-at-10-a-m"