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Welcome to the Portsmouth Wind Power Page. The authoritative source of information on wind power initiatives in Portsmouth.
Since late 2004, the Portsmouth Economic
Development Committee (PEDC) Sustainable
Energy Subcommittee has been working on the potential use of wind power
to provide for some of the Town’s energy needs for five years.
We needed to make sure that erecting a Town Wind turbine would
also be an economic engine that would add to the Town’s
treasury. We did an extensive feasibility study to make sure we had all the facts
and put the question up to the voters who approved the project with a sound majority.
In April 2008 we signed a contract with AAER of Canada to build our wind turbine.
The turbine was turned over to the Town on March 24,2009. Portsmouth's Wind Turbine project is featured
on the National Geographic Channel's
WORLD'S TOUGHEST FIXES
that premiered on June 18, 2009. It will be rebroadcast several times in the next few months.
Check the link for the dates/times.
THE WIND TURBINE HAS PRODUCED
OVER 850 MEGAWATT-HRS OF POWER.
THAT MEANS: Over $130,000 for the Town treasury.
The manufacturer, AAER, is working on a real or near time data readout that will be available to the public. This feature should be available soon.
INFORMATION ON TURBINE SITE VISITS - Contact Portsmouth Assistant Town Planner, Gary Crosby (401)-643-0332 or E-Mail at: gcrosby@portsmouthri.com
QUESTIONS or COMMENTS? - E-Mail us at: questions@PortsmouthRIenergy.com
NEED ANSWERS? See the Frequently Asked Questions Page.
WIND TIMELINE - See the Project Timeline.
READ PORTSMOUTH's WIND POWER FEASIBILITY STUDY..
RECENT HAPPENINGSJune 27, 2009 - NEW MUNICIPAL NET METERING LAW PASSED.
The new RI Municipal Net Metering legistaltion was passed that allows for credit on up to 10 Town electric meters for power generated by the Portsmouth wind turbine. The previous legislation only allowed for 5 meters that would have left the Town short on the credit they could have received. The legilsation, expected to be signed by the Governor soon, will be retroactive to June 1, 2009. (See a copy of H5461a.).
May 12, 2009 - WIND TURBINE DEDICATED - RI GOVERNOR ATTENDS
The wind turbine was offically dedicated on May 12, 2009. (MORE) .
TURBINE CONSTRUCTION HISTORY
We'll provide you construction updates as things happen. Just click on the date below.
March 24, 2009 - Town Accepts WTG Keys - Offical Shakedown Commences. .
March 21, 2009 - WTG in Full Automatic. .
March 18, 2009 - Manufacturer Acceptance Testing in Progress. .
March 7, 2009 - Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. A Few More Days of Testing. .
March 3, 2009 - Blades Installed. A few Days of Testing Remaining. .
March 2, 2009 - Still Waiting Through the Night and the Snow .
February 28, 2009 - Final Tower Section and Nacelle Landed. .
February 27, 2009 - The Nacelle Arrived and is Ready - But, Too Much Wind Delays Erection. .
February 24, 2009 - All Blades Attached - Nacelle on the Way.
February 19, 2009 - First Blade Attached - Nacelle Delayed.
February 17, 2009 - Second Tower Section Set In Place.
February 13, 2009 - First Tower Section Set In Place.
February 9, 2009 - Towers Make Their Way to Newport.
February 6, 2009 - Governor Watches Tower Loaded at Quonset.
January 29, 2009 - WTG Blades Unloaded During a Snow Storm.
January 27, 2009 - WTG Blades Arrive on Site.
Week of January 19, 2009 - Summary of Events.
January 23, 2008 - WTG BLades Parked in CT .
January 21, 2008 - First Major Component Arrival.
Weeks of December 15, 2008 through January 5, 2008.
Week of December 8, 2008.
Weeks of November 24, and December 1, 2008.
Week of November 17, 2008.
Week of November 10, 2008.
Week of November 3, 2008.
Week of October 27, 2008.
Weeks of October 13 and 20 2008.
Weeks of September 29 and October 6, 2008.
Week of September 22, 2008.
Week of September 15, 2008.
Week of September 8, 2008.
Week of September 1, 2008.
Week of August 25, 2008.
Week of August 18, 2008.
Week of August 11, 2008.
Week of August 4, 2008.
Week of July 28, 2008.
Week of July 21, 2008.
Week of July 14, 2008
Portsmouth's Generator is seen here at the AAER plant in Canada after it arrived in mid September 2008.
WIND TURBINE GENERATOR GROUNDBREAKING JUNE 13.
On June 13, 2008,at 4:00 PM, the official groundbreaking for the wind turbine project was conducted. The ceremony was held at the turbine site with about 40 people attending. Remarks were made by Dennis Canario, Portsmouth Town Council President, and Dave Gagnon, President and CEO of AAER, Canada, the wind turbine contractor. ( ... SEE MORE...).
WIND TURBINE GENERATOR CONTRACT SIGNED.
On April 11, 2008, Dennis Canario, Portsmouth Town Council President and Alex Pichs, Wind-Smart Program Manager signed a $2.918 Million deal to procure and install a 1.5 Megawatt Wind Turbine Generator on the Portsmouth High School grounds. The wind turbine generator, expected to be in operation late in 2008, will supply much of the electrical power needs of the school and, at times, generate additional electrical power that will be sold back to the power company. Wind-Smart will use five Rhode Island businesses as subcontractors to perform the majority of the construction work. ( ... SEE MORE...).
WIND TURBINE GENERATOR WINS COUNCIL APPROVAL.
WIND SMART, LLC SELECTED AS CONTRACTOR OF CHOICE.
On March 10, 2008, The Portsmouth Town Council approved the awarding of a contract of up to $3 Million and an Operation and Maintenance Contract for $25,000 per year (in 2008 Dollars adjusted annually with the Consumer Price Index) for the post-warranty years (years 6 and beyond) to Wind Smart, LLC. ( ... SEE MORE...).
WIND POWER BALLOT REFERENDUM - Passes with 60% of the Vote on Nov 6
The voters of Portsmouth approved the referendum question that authorized the Town to obligate up to $3 Million to construct a wind turbine at either the High School and/or Middle School. The Town has secured $2.6 million in zero interest bonds to be used, specifically, for the wind project. The balance of the cost of the turbine (estimated to be $400K for a total $3 million project cost) will be using conventional bonds at market rate or lower cost funding via the State Renewable Energy Fund. ( ... SEE MORE...).
Other Recent Activities:
- WIND POWER FEASIBILITY STUDY RELEASED. We have completed our 'Wind Power Project for the Middle and High Schools - A Feasibility Study'. This study is the culmination of over two years of volunteer work by the Portsmouth EDC's Sustainanble Energy Subcommittee. Our goal was to have a complete, balanced and unbiased report on the project. We hope we have attained that goal. We discussed the study in detail at a workshop with the Town Council on October 1. At the workshop, the town Council unanimously resolved to support the project. View or download a copy of the Wind Power Project for the High School and Middle School - A Feasibility Study - September 2007.
- $25K STATE GRANT. We were awarded a $25,000 grant from the State to perform a feasibility study, which is currently in progress.
- $2.6 MILLION CREB - We were awarded the option to use $2.6 Million in Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (at zero % interest). See Funding and Economics FAQ Q-F-3 for info.
- 'CATCH THE WIND' Public Workshop. In June 2007, we conducted three workshops for the public to provide information on our Wind Project and to answer questions and concerns. See a copy of the presentation - CATCH the WIND WORKSHOP. Also see the 'CATCH the WIND' Brochure. Answers to questions and concerns are being researched and will be posted on the Frequently Asked Questions Page.
- $25K STATE GRANT. We were awarded a $25,000 grant from the State to perform a feasibility study, which is currently in progress.
- $2.6 MILLION CREB - We were awarded the option to use $2.6 Million in Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (at zero % interest). See Funding and Economics FAQ Q-F-3 for info.
- CITIZEN REFERENDUM To ensure that the decision to pursue the wind project is what our citizens want, we have taken the extra effort to have legislation enacted by the RI Assembly to have a referendum ballot to allow the voters to approve the bond expenditure for the turbine project. See Laws and Regulations FAQ Q-L-2 for more info.
- TOWN COUNCIL WORKSHOP - We conducted a wind workshop with the Town Council on February 20. See the workshop slides (pdf 140KB).
- WIND CONFERENCE PRESENTATION - We presented an update of our wind power inititaive at the RI WIND ENERGY CONFERENCE,
"From Local to Global: The RI Model for Harnessing Wind Power Worldwide" on APRIL 20, 2007.
View PORTSMOUTH'S WIND ENERGY INITIATIVE 4-20-07 (pdf 140KB)
- WIND POWER SURVEY
- WIND POWER SURVEY
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY - This is truely the Town's Wind
Turbine Generator. In the coming months you will see construction in progress above the high school as the
turbine foundation is built and electrical cables are run to the main electrical supply line. At the end of 2008,
the turbine is due to arrive and we will place it upon the foundation,"plug it in" and start generating power.
We value the community's questions and comments. -
E-Mail us at:
questions@PortsmouthRIenergy.com
WIND PLAN OUTLINE:
See our outline of the
Town's Path to Wind Energy for more details of our plan.
WIND TIMELINE -
See the projected Project Timeline.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS or COMMENTS? - Our goal is to have every question about the project on the table and every question and concern addressed. Please provide us your questions and concerns by e-mailing:
We will respond to all reasonable questions either directly or on the Frequently Asked Questions Page.
We will continuing to build this site with more information as our project progresses.
Please check back frequently as we provide more information on Portsmouth wind power.
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