Mayor announces plans for wind turbines at Boston Public Schools and City Hall

Wind power development will boost economic development and the City's renewable energy contribution

Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced today new steps that the City of Boston is taking to advance wind power development in the city and the region, further advancing Boston's leadership in climate action and clean energy development. The Mayor announced that the City will install a small-scale wind turbine on the roof of Boston City Hall, examine the feasibility of larger turbines at up to six Boston Public Schools, and develop new wind energy zoning for private project proponents.



"Renewable energy projects in Boston are good for our environment and will create good 'green collar jobs' for local residents," said Mayor Menino. "Boston's focus on renewable energy, green buildings and energy efficiency has the potential to create 2,500 new jobs to serve this massive new market for people who provide clean technology services."

Last April, the Mayor issued an executive order calling on City departments to devise plans for greater use of renewable energy sources. The Boston Public Schools is examining the feasibility of developing one or more wind turbines, with six schools in various neighborhoods under consideration as preliminary sites. The City and school district will embark on an extensive community process to select the best sites to advance these wind power projects.

Among the sites under consideration are the following:

•Charlestown High School, Medford Street

•Dever Elementary and McCormack Middle Schools, Mt. Vernon Street, Dorchester

•Madison Park Technical-Vocational High School, Malcolm X Blvd., Roxbury

•Ohrenberger Elementary School, West Boundary Road, West Roxbury

•Umana Middle School Academy, 312 Border St., East Boston

•West Roxbury Education Complex (formerly West Roxbury H.S.), VFW Parkway

The school district has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for firms to study, design, construct, install and maintain turbines in high-wind locations to generate energy and provide learning opportunities for students. Officials emphasized that residents and neighbors of sites under consideration would be informed and engaged through an extensive community process before any decision is made about locating the turbines.

Dr. Carol R. Johnson, Superintendent of the Boston Public Schools, commented on the educational value of the turbines. She hopes that teachers will take advantage of the turbines on site, incorporating them into the curriculum to bring science lessons to life. The projects would include installation of meters and educational kiosks in schools to track the energy harnessed by the turbines.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to see up close on a daily basis the power of new technology in creating a cleaner, greener environment," she said. "These turbines will serve as outdoor classrooms for our students and help prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow in the fast-growing field of renewable energy."

Dr. Johnson added that BPS has been a leader in energy efficiency and renewable energy, citing the use of solar panels at three schools, co-generators for better energy use, and low-energy lightbulbs, among other measures.

The City's decision to install a 1.8KW Skystream wind turbine at Boston City Hall as a small-scale wind power demonstration project, is a result of the Mayor's interest in showcasing wind power technology at the seat of City government. Since October, the City has been collecting wind data on the roof of City Hall through the pro-bono services of Second Wind, a Boston-area wind consulting firm. Officials said that while the wind quality at City Hall would not support the installation of a commercial grade turbine, a roof-mounted turbine is feasible and more appropriate. Southwest Windpower of Flagstaff, Arizona is donating a 1.8KW Skystream wind turbine for City Hall, which will be installed pro-bono by IBEW Local 103 this spring. This type of installation will be the first of its kind in the country.

Lastly, the City and the Boston Redevelopment Authority are working on a Wind Energy Zoning provision for the Boston Zoning Code. The provision will govern the siting of (1) "large wind facilities" – turbines (minimum 100kW, the size of IBEW Local 103's turbine in Dorchester); (2) "small wind facilities"; and (3) "building-integrated facilities." The Wind Energy Zoning proposal will be available to the public at the end of January, and public hearings will follow in February prior to submission to the Boston Zoning Commission.

"This commitment to wind power is yet another example of how Mayor Menino is having Boston lead by example when it comes to clean energy and sustainability," said James W. Hunt, Boston's Chief of Environment and Energy. "The wind power demonstration project on City Hall and the potential for turbines on school grounds will showcase the tremendous promise that renewable energy holds in Boston and beyond."

About Second Wind:

Second Wind has an industry-wide reputation for innovative, reliable technology and excellent customer support. Its steady clients include the largest developers and operators in the industry, and it has maintained a double digit annual growth rate over the last five years. About half of all wind turbines installed in the United States in the last decade with non-manufacturer supplied SCADA systems use Second Wind software. That is approximately 15% of all turbines, and about 4 gigawatts of installed capacity. In total, Second Wind systems monitor more than 6,000 turbines and four gigawatts of wind generated electricity worldwide. Second Wind is headquartered in Somerville, Massachusetts.

About Southwest Wind:

Southwest Windpower is the world's leading producer of small residential scale wind turbines. The 20 year old company has shipped well over 100,000 machines around the world. Recently, they received an equity investment to expand the business by Boston based Rockport Partners. The company's newest machine, Skystream is considered to be the first residential wind energy "appliance" for homes and small businesses. The company has shipped approximately 1500 Skystream's including one to former President Bush's Kennebunkport, Maine home.

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