The Hammond Port Authority's wind turbine project makes its way to the City Council on Monday. The council will be asked to consider a variance to allow the installation of wind turbines at two separate locations within Wolf Lake Memorial Park and Forsythe Park. ...Talks with U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials have resulted in the city being asked to conduct a study after construction of the wind turbines and the findings being reported back, he said.
The Hammond Port Authority's wind turbine project makes its way to the City Council on Monday. The council will be asked to consider a variance to allow the installation of wind turbines at two separate locations within Wolf Lake Memorial Park and Forsythe Park. ...Talks with U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials have resulted in the city being asked to conduct a study after construction of the wind turbines and the findings being reported back, he said.
HAMMOND | The Hammond Port Authority's wind turbine project makes its way to the City Council on Monday.
The council will be asked to consider a variance to allow the installation of wind turbines at two separate locations within Wolf Lake Memorial Park and Forsythe Park.
Assuming the council will assign the project to committee for review on Monday, Port Authority Director Milan Kruszynski expects final approval at the first council meeting in March after which construction will begin as soon as weather permits. A contract for the project has been awarded, he said.
"We're poised and ready to go," he said Friday.
The city and the Port Authority last November were approved for a $24,250 grant toward the project by the Indiana …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]HAMMOND | The Hammond Port Authority's wind turbine project makes its way to the City Council on Monday.
The council will be asked to consider a variance to allow the installation of wind turbines at two separate locations within Wolf Lake Memorial Park and Forsythe Park.
Assuming the council will assign the project to committee for review on Monday, Port Authority Director Milan Kruszynski expects final approval at the first council meeting in March after which construction will begin as soon as weather permits. A contract for the project has been awarded, he said.
"We're poised and ready to go," he said Friday.
The city and the Port Authority last November were approved for a $24,250 grant toward the project by the Indiana Office of Energy & Defense.
The total project cost is higher than previously reported. Kruszynski said the correct cost is $195,000 for both turbines minus the grant award, or $170,750, which covers construction of the bases and towers, generator hookups and fencing.
The project satisfies a request by Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. that the city explore ways to reduce utility and energy costs. An educational component will complement the Environmental Education Center directly across from Wolf Lake Memorial Park.
An informational kiosk and additional electronic monitoring are planned as part of the educational display. Kruszynski said the public will be able to view wind speed, wind direction and kilowatt hour savings as an electrical meter spins. At the end of the month, meter readings will produce either a bill or a credit.
"Credits will be applied to the city of Hammond, not the Port Authority," Kruszynski said.
Because of a pending rate increase proposed by NIPSCO, Kruszynski declined to offer any savings estimates or a timetable for the cost of the project to pay for itself.
"This is more a demonstration project showing folks this really can happen and what environmental effects it has," he said.
Kruszynski acknowledged the concerns of environmentalists regarding the safety of migratory birds that regularly pass through the area, saying the wind turbines are classified as small towers, being less than 100 feet tall and having blades only 23 feet in length.
"There are higher tension lines across the lake," he said.
Regarding the welfare of the birds, Kruszynski said while the city conducted a wind study, he knows of no studies on the effects of small turbine facilities.
Talks with U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials have resulted in the city being asked to conduct a study after construction of the wind turbines and the findings being reported back, he said.
"If in fact (the findings) suggest that during the height of the migratory season turbine brakes be applied, we would comply with that request," Kruszynski said."Any less fossil fuels burned at our electrical generating stations are better for all our health (as well as) the birds."