Article
Council ponders windy resolution for airbase
townonline.com|Ed Baker|April 5, 2006
A request to ask South Shore Tri-Town Development Corporation do a wind-powered energy study at the former South Weymouth Naval Air Station will be studied for its feasibility by a town council environmental committee.
A request to ask South Shore Tri-Town Development Corporation do a wind-powered energy study at the former South Weymouth Naval Air Station will be studied for its feasibility by a town council environmental committee.
Councilors voted 9-1 to have the environmental committee review the resolution after a blustery discussion.
"The time is overdue for the issue to be addressed by South Shore Tri-Town," District 3 councilor Kenneth DiFazio said to the council. "Zoning requirements can be changed. I think it's time we asked South Shore Tri-Town to determine whether a wind tower is viable."
DiFazio's proposal came after Andrew Sterns, vice-president of Citizens Advocates for Renewable Energy and Kristen Burke of Massachusetts Technology Collaborative described how windmills can produce energy at a lower cost and provide cleaner air to the council.
"I'm not hear to make a case for saving dollars and cents," Sterns said to the council. "A wind assessment must …
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Councilors voted 9-1 to have the environmental committee review the resolution after a blustery discussion.
"The time is overdue for the issue to be addressed by South Shore Tri-Town," District 3 councilor Kenneth DiFazio said to the council. "Zoning requirements can be changed. I think it's time we asked South Shore Tri-Town to determine whether a wind tower is viable."
DiFazio's proposal came after Andrew Sterns, vice-president of Citizens Advocates for Renewable Energy and Kristen Burke of Massachusetts Technology Collaborative described how windmills can produce energy at a lower cost and provide cleaner air to the council.
"I'm not hear to make a case for saving dollars and cents," Sterns said to the council. "A wind assessment must be done to determine if it's feasible at South Weymouth Naval Air Station."
He said energy experts use an anemometer to gauge the wind speed and to determine if there is enough wind throughout much of the year to harness it to produce energy.
"On municipal land, wind in excess of 14.5 mile-per-hour is ideal," Burke said. "Large wind turbines that can produce 660 kilo-watts are needed."
She said communities can purchase these devices through state or federal grants.
"The grants can cover certain types of assistance such as feasibility, business planning, designs and getting permits," Burke said.
Sterns said wind turbines can produce upwards to 375,000 kilowatts of electricity in a year in some instances if a site has enough machines.
DiFazio said the benefits of wind powered energy needs to be tapped for its potential at the base.
"I request that we draft a letter to have Tri-Town erect an anemometer that will determine whether the base is suitable to have a wind-farm at the base," he said.
Council president Michael Smart declared DiFazio's request to be out-of order.
"It's out of order, because it will require a zoning change," he said.
"All we are doing is asking them to do it," DiFazio said. "If a change has to be made we can require it."
Smart said the proposal can only be made as a suggestion to Tri-Town and it can't be a requirement.
Councilor-at-large Kevin Whitaker amended DiFazio's motion with a request to have an environmental committee review its feasibility. The council voted to refer the resolution to the environmental committee.