Hoosac Wind Power Project
| Hoosac Wind Power Project | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Country | United States |
| Location | Berkshire County |
| Coordinates | 42°42′39″N 73°01′11″W / 42.7109°N 73.0198°W |
| Status | Operational |
| Commission date | 2012 |
| Construction cost | US$90 million |
| Owner | Iberdola Renewables |
| Wind farm | |
| Type | |
| Power generation | |
| Nameplate capacity |
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| External links | |
| Website | http://iberdrolarenewables.us/cs_hoosac.html |
[1][2] | |
Hoosac Wind Power Project on Crum Hill in Monroe, Massachusetts and on Bakke Mountain in Florida, Massachusetts, owned and operated by Iberdrola Renewables, is the largest wind farm in Massachusetts, with 19 GE 1.5 MW wind turbines and a total installed capacity of 28.5 MW. The Hoosac Wind power project became fully operational in 2012. The project provides enough electricity to power 10,000 homes annually.[3]
History
In 1980, during a Bakke Mountain hike, the Bakke family noticed the region was quite breezy. The sparse tree growth was misshapen and deformed by the strong winds. Hans Bakke began to consider the possibility of wind energy at the site. EnXco, the wind-energy company and partner of the French energy conglomerate Électricité de France, approached the Bakke family to propose building a wind farm together.
Project details
The project consists of 19 GE Wind Energy 1.5 MW wind turbines and is divided among two separate sites – nine turbines on Crum Hill in Monroe, and ten on Bakke Mountain in Florida, Massachusetts. Each turbine produces 1.5 MW, the site has a capacity to produce 28.5 MW; this is enough energy to supply approximately 10,00 average homes in the region annualy. The towers are 213 feet (65 m) tall, with 121 feet (37 m) blades. From base to vertically positioned blade tip, they will be approximately 334 feet (102 m). The turbines begin generating energy at wind speeds as low as 8 mph (13 km/h), and produce the maximum power output when winds blow above 30 mph (48 km/h). The maximum rotor speed is 20 rpm. The project was built with turbines manufactured at facilities all across the U.S. The power generated is delivered to the New England grid through the local utility NSTAR.[4]
Environmental impact
The Hoosac Wind Power Project offsets approximately 100 million pounds of carbon dioxide per year relative to conventional electricity generation. That’s equivalent to the estimated annual emissions produced by 9,400 cars or consuming more than 112,000 barrels of oil.[5]
Economic impact
Approximately US$257,000 in annual contract payments are made to the host towns (US$135,000 to Florida, $122,000 to Monroe), escalating with inflation, amounting to approximately US$6.8 million over the life of the contract. In addition, the towns host turbines on town-owned land, which will generate approximately US$3 million in revenue over the life of the project. The project created 3 permanent jobs, 140 temporary construction jobs at peak, and purchase many products and services locally. To date, the project has generated 70,098 local labor hours and nearly US$3.8 million in local spending.[6]
Recent developments
In January 2006, Hoosac Wind LLC was purchased by the British company PPM Energy for an estimated $40 million (PPM was subsequently absorbed by Iberdrola Renewables[7]). Hoosac Wind LLC was renamed New England Wind LLC. Under enXco, Hoosac Wind had tentative approval from both Florida and Monroe after taking considerable amounts of wind-speed and direction data; avian, archeological, geological, and wildlife studies have been conducted as well. In November 2004, the State of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection approved the proposed project. However, thorny issues plague the project including the presence of potentially vulnerable species of goldenrod in the vicinity of the proposed site, as well as the asserted danger to the migratory paths of birds and bats. Green Berkshires, an environmental organization opposed to wind energy projects in the Berkshire mountain range, had filed an appeal currently under consideration by the State of Massachusetts Division of Administrative Law Appeals. As of May, 2008, the project was still under review post environmental standards challenges.[8] The project began construction in early 2012 and was completed in December of 2012.[9]
Forest and wildlife management
Efforts began in 2002 to regain some of the species displaced by previous decades and is a component of the environmental planning on the region.
See also
References
- ^ "Hoosac Wind Project Nears Completion". September 10,2012. Retrieved january 15, 2014.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ "Hoosac Wind turbines to fire up soon". September 24,2012. Retrieved january 15, 2014.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ "Hoosac Wind Project Nears Completion". September 10,2012. Retrieved january 15, 2014.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ "GE 1.5 MW wind turbine" (pdf). March, 2009. Retrieved january 15, 2014.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ "Hoosac fact sheet" (pdf). December 3,2012. Retrieved january 15, 2014.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ "Hoosac Wind". December 3,2012. Retrieved january 15, 2014.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ PPM Energy is Now Iberdrola Renewables (May 1, 2008) Reuters.
- ^ Stafford, Scott. "Florida, Monroe wind turbine project slows" (May 5, 2008) Berkshire Eagle.
- ^ "Hoosac fact sheet" (pdf). December 3,2012. Retrieved january 15, 2014.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help)
External links
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