Patrick Administration Seeks Bids to Install Wind Turbines at North Central Correctional Institution and Mt. Wachusett Community College

Projects could add up to 6.5 megawatts to Commonwealth’s wind power capacity, saving state agencies as much as $2.1 million in energy costs annually

BOSTON – Pursuing Governor Deval Patrick’s goal to deploy 2,000 megawatts (MW) of wind power in Massachusetts by 2020, the Patrick Administration today announced plans to design and install several wind turbines on state property in Gardner – at Mt. Wachusett Community College and the Department of Correction’s North Central Correctional Institution.

Under the Governor’s Leading by Example program to increase the use of renewable power and energy efficiency at state facilities, these projects will boost the state’s wind power capacity by 4.5 to 6.5 MW and provide host agencies with annual energy savings of between $1.6 million and $2.1 million, depending on the number of turbines ultimately installed.

Working in collaboration with the Department of Energy Resources (DOER), which runs the Leading by Example program, the Division of Capital Asset Management (DCAM) today issued Requests for Proposals (RFP) to install two 1.65 MW turbines at the North Central Correctional Institution and one or two turbines of the same size at Mt. Wachusett Community College, depending on available funding. The RFPs follow feasibility testing that demonstrated wind power potential at both sites capable of supporting large wind turbine installations.

“The installation of these turbines will increase the Commonwealth’s installed wind power capacity by at least 50 percent – moving us closer to Governor Patrick’s ambitious wind power goal,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles. “As the fastest growing energy source in the world, wind power is a critical component of the Administration’s plans for a robust clean energy economy in Massachusetts and it’s fitting that state agencies and facilities are leading the way.”

“The Patrick-Murray Administration continues to make energy efficiency and renewables a top priority,” DCAM Commissioner David B. Perini said. “A great deal of planning and analysis goes into each of these projects, and it is a tremendous feeling when we reach a project milestone like this when you can start to see the installation of these systems at state facilities, along with the associated operational savings and environmental benefits.”

There are currently 16 large turbines in Massachusetts, with total generating capacity of approximately 9 MW statewide. Increasing installed wind power is essential for meeting mandates set by several pieces of clean energy legislation passed last year – including the Global Warming Solutions Act, which requires the Commonwealth to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases 80 percent by 2050 and up to 25 percent by 2020. Depending on whether Mt. Wachusett Community College gets one turbine or two, the projects announced today are estimated to reduce annual carbon emissions (by displacing fossil fuel plant-generated electricity) by 4,700 to 6,100 metric tons annually – equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions eliminated by taking 800 to 1,000 cars off the road.

“I believe climate change with all its varied impacts will prove to be the great environmental challenge of this century. I am pleased that we are beginning to use public resources to help address this serious issue,” said US Congressman John Olver.

Expanding wind power also helps the state meet new renewable energy use requirements in the Green Communities Act, comprehensive energy reform legislation also signed by Governor Patrick last year. That law changed the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, accelerating the annual rate of increase in renewable energy required of all electricity suppliers. That requirement rises from 4 percent of sales this year to 15 percent by 2020, and continues upward at 1 percent per year beyond that.

Siting wind turbines on the grounds of state facilities is also in line Governor Patrick’s Leading by Example Executive Order of 2007, which requires state agencies to procure 15 percent of their annual electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2012 and 30 percent by 2020.

“The Commonwealth is making good progress toward this mandate,” DOER Commissioner Phil Giudice said. “In addition to the projects put out to bid today, the administration expects to solicit bids for another 1.65 megawatt turbine at the Plymouth County Sheriff’s department and correctional facility this fall.”

“The Department of Correction's energy initiative looks for new, proven and innovative measures to reduce our current energy dependency. Clean renewable energy is at the forefront of this initiative. With the addition of the wind turbines the Department of Correction will have the largest renewable capacity in the Commonwealth for a state agency," said Harold W. Clarke, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Correction.

The DOC turbines will be funded in part through a $1.2 million grant from the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust, while the Mt. Wachusett Community College project is partially financed with US Department of Energy funds.

“This is a long-awaited project that couldn’t be coming at a better time. Not only will the turbine provide substantial financial rewards in terms of future cost savings, but it will also provide educational rewards as Mount Wachusett Community College expands its program offerings in renewable energy education, a high-demand and rapidly expanding field,” said Department of Higher Education Commissioner Richard M. Freeland. “I commend Mount Wachusett Community College and President Asquino for their leadership in this arena.”

"This is a very exciting project for Mount Wachusett Community College. We know it's good for the environment, we know it's good for the college, and we know it's good for the community, the Commonwealth and the nation,” said College President Daniel M. Asquino. “The energy cost savings that will be realized through this wind project will allow more of our financial resources to be applied toward academic programs and technology, rather than utility bills. We greatly appreciate the support this project has received on the federal, state and local levels to further advance our innovative renewable energy programs on campus.”

The deadline for bids on the two Gardner wind turbine projects is October 9^th, 2009. DCAM will likely select contractors in late November, with work able to begin this winter. To view the RFPs, click here (search for project DOC0702 EC1 or MWC0801 ES1).