Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Mass. grants $2.2 million for wind projects

By Jackie Noblett

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Community wind projects across the state are receiving a boost from the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust.

The trust’s Commonwealth Wind Community-Scale Wind inititative announced grants totalling $2.2 million to support projects in nine coastal Massachusetts communities. Project funding included three grants for design and construction of turbines and six grants for feasability studies. In total, the projects have the potential to generate 7 megawatts of electricity.

“These nine grants will help get more wind turbines installed and help more community institutions reduce their use of fossil fuels,” said Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles in a statement.

The three projects receiving design and construction grants are the town of Hanover, for its wastewater treatment plant; the Lynn Water and Sewer Commission; and the Massachusetts Department of Correction, for North Central Correction Institution-Gardner.

Awards for the six feasibility studies go to Allen Farm, Martha’s Vineyard; Cape Cod Academy, Osterville; Centerville-Osterville-Marston Mills Fire District; Colony Place, Plymouth; Falmouth Academy, Falmouth; and Up-Island Regional School District, Chilmark, Aquinnah, and West Tisbury.

The Renewable Energy Trust is funded by a ratepayer charge.