Schools consider erecting wind turbine on campus

The School Committee is interested in having a developer build a tower with a wind turbine on the campus that includes the high school and middle school. Committee members will discuss the proposal at their meeting tonight.

"It could potentially power the high school, middle school, Town Hall and the Multiservice Building," School Superintendent James Collins said, adding that the turbine would be the source of electricity "as long as the winds are blowing."

The developer of the proposed turbine, Sustainable Resources Group, will give a presentation at 7:30 p.m., and members will consider a proposed bylaw making the turbine's construction possible. The Planning Board will take the matter up at its meetings on March 29 and April 10, and voters will decide whether to approve the bylaw at the special Town Meeting, Dr. Collins said.

The tower would be 300 feet high and reach another 150 feet in the air when the blade is at its highest point, Dr. Collins said. The schools currently spend 13 cents for each kilowatt of power, and the turbine's power would cost 10 cents and remain stable in comparison with rising energy prices, he said.

The department also could bring in revenue by selling excess energy; the turbine would work through the night while the buildings are closed, he said.