Berkshire Wind Power Project

The Berkshire Wind Power Project
Location of The Berkshire Wind Power Project in Massachusetts
Country United States
Location Hancock, Massachusetts
Coordinates 42°34′45″N 73°16′26″W / 42.57917°N 73.27389°W / 42.57917; -73.27389Coordinates: 42°34′45″N 73°16′26″W / 42.57917°N 73.27389°W / 42.57917; -73.27389
Status Operational
Construction began September, 2009
Commission date May, 2011
Construction cost US $64.7 million
Owner(s) Berkshire Wind Power Co-op
Wind farm
Type Onshore
Avg. site elevation 2,500 feet (760 m)
Site area 75 acres
Hub height 262 feet (80 m)
Rotor diameter 252 feet (77 m)
Power generation
Units operational 10
Make and model GE Wind Energy: 1.5 MW
Nameplate capacity 15 MW
Capacity factor 40%
Average generation 52,500 MWh
Website
http://www.berkshirewindcoop.org/
[1][2]

The Berkshire Wind Power Project is a wind farm on Brodie Mountain in Hancock, Massachusetts. Owned and operated by the Berkshire Wind Power Cooperative Corporation, it is the second largest wind farm in Massachusetts, with 10 GE 1.5 MW wind turbines and a total installed capacity of 15 MW. The Berkshire wind power project became fully operational in 2011, and provides enough electricity to power 6,000 homes annually.[3]

Berkshire Wind Power Project

Project details

The project consists of 10 GE Wind Energy 1.5 MW wind turbines on Brodie Mountain in Hancock, Massachusetts. Each turbine produces 1.5 MW, the site has the capacity to produce 15 MW; this is enough energy to supply approximately 6,000 average homes in the region annually. 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). Wind speeds atop Brodie Mountain average 8 m/s (18 mph), one of the best inland wind sites in Massachusetts, making it a Class 6 resource on the American Wind Energy Scale of 1 to 7. 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).[4] 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.[1][5]

Environmental impact

Berkshire Wind Power Project offsets approximately 612,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year relative to conventional electricity generation. That’s equivalent to the estimated annual emissions produced by consuming more than 1.17 million barrels of oil.[1][6]

Economic impact

Approximately US $109,000 per year in annual payments in lieu of taxes are made to the Town of Hancock, changing with inflation, amounting to approximately US $2.1 million over the life of the agreement. In addition the project created 50 full-time jobs, through the use of 20 Massachusetts companies, and purchase many products and services locally.[1][7]

Berkshire Wind Power Cooperative Corporation

Berkshire Wind Power Cooperative Corporation is a non-profit entity created by 14 Massachusetts municipal utilities and the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC). In addition to MMWEC, members of the Cooperative include the consumer-owned, municipal utilities serving the communities of Ashburnham, Boylston, Groton, Holden, Hull, Ipswich, Marblehead, Paxton, Peabody, Shrewsbury, Sterling, Templeton, Wakefield, and West Boylston. Unlike other utilities, municipal utilities are not required to the Massachusetts renewable portfolio standard, though Each of these public power utilities have embraced the state's call for renewable energy development voluntarily because their customers support renewable energy development, these public entities took the initiative to form the Cooperative and complete the Berkshire Wind Power Project.[8]

Berkshire Wind Power Cooperative - Municipal Utility Members[1]
Municipal Department Output kW Percent Share of Output
Ashburnham Municipal Light Plant6864.573
Boylston Municipal Light Department6634.419
Groton Electric Light Department8305.533
Holden Municipal Light Department1,0416.938
Hull Municipal Lighting Plant7655.102
Ipswich Municipal Light Department9626.416
Marblehead Municipal Light Department1,0096.727
Paxton Municipal Light Department6324.212
Peabody Municipal Light Plant2,72718.180
Shrewsbury Electric & Cable Operations1,90812.718
Sterling Municipal Light Department7855.232
Templeton Municipal Light & Water Plant8235.484
Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department1,3639.091
West Boylston Municipal Lighting Plant8065.374

[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Berkshire Wind Power Facts" (PDF). May 2011. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Project Facts". May 2011. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Berkshire Wind Power Project". May 28, 2011. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
  4. ↑ "1.5 - 77 Wind Turbine". 2014. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
  5. ↑ "GE 1.5 MW wind turbine" (pdf). March 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  6. ↑ Patrick Donges (May 6, 2011). "Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick dedicates Berkshires wind farm". WAMC Northeast Public Radio. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Hancock to see PILOT funds from Berkshire Wind project". November 19, 2010. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Who We Are". May 2011. Retrieved January 20, 2014.

External links

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