ISI – 2nd meeting
December 5, 2007
Focus: Wind Power and Food
Recapping the first meeting, Amanda Ravenhill spoke of defining “sustainability” through the work of many groups working in the town. The Sustainability Initiative is a forum to complement and bring ideas together, to work on solutions to voiced concerns.
Dan Lief mentioned that the Island Institute and the town are finishing the needed paperwork to confirm Amanda as an Island Institute fellow for the next 8 months.
Jeff Cramer discussed his research into wind power for island communities. It can be both environmentally and economically advantageous.
DISCUSSION on Wind Power led by Jeff Cramer:
1. Begin with a small test project. This would look at a ≈10KW turbine to provide a year’s measurement with the goal of paying for the electrical needs of the town, municipal buildings including the school(s) and street lamps.
2. A host of grant money is available. A goal is to fund 2/3 of a $50 to $60.000.00 project from grants plus 1/3 from the town. The town Bangor Hydro bill is now approximately $3000 per year.
3. Skip Stevens asked about an environmental impact study. All agreed with Jeff
that a holistic approach would be taken to examine environmental and efficiency
issues. The group also noted that the esthetics of the project must be considered.
4. Jeff outlined an example of a turbine, the Bergey XL10. The company, in business for 30 years has products with an extremely low maintenance to output ratio. This turbine would be connected directly into the grid.
5. In response to a question about noise pollution, David Thomas spoke about the size of nearby islands considering wind power and that bothersome noise comes from multiples of turbines.
6. Wanda Porter raised the issue of periods of low or no wind. Jeff explained the concept of “drawing from a savings account” and building credits in windy periods.
7. The next steps include approval by the town and applying for grants given to non-profits. [2008 town meeting warrant.] Grant givers will look favorably upon groups with community support and matching funds.
8. Courtney Chaplin stated that if we are looking at the cost of a feasibility study, we do save about 1/3 of the cost doing it as a town. The savings from the town BH bill could be put into a fund for other projects, aiding those who may be monetary help with projects.
9. All the work done by the Sustainability Initiative would be incorporated into the school curriculum.
10. Jeff mentioned that this and other possible Island wind projects will all fit into an possible official island commitment to local renewable clean energy.
DISCUSSION on Food led by Lindsay Eysnogle:
1. We should look at what we can do now to decrease our impact.
2. Contact Soos to join the group buying from Associated Buyers, grain, meat, flour, etc. from Maine.
3. Look to local farms, including Smith Family Farm in Bar Harbor, which is selling dairy products year round – some now available at Pine Tree.
4. Increase the number and productivity of gardens on the island.
Small farms are important to saving biodiversity
Meat produced on large corporate farms is often unhealthy, both for the animals and the consumers.
Pesticides and petroleum based fertilizers produce problems.
Island gardeners should read books, articles by Elliot Coleman from Brookville, Maine, who advocates and teaches year-round gardening in Maine.
THIS MEETING’S COMMITMENTS:
1. Courtney and the Chaplin family: made numerous calls to remove their household from catalogue mailing lists.
2. Ravenhill clan: signed the house and Islesford Boatworks up for Green Energy.
3. Anna Fernald: using a clothesline instead of a dryer.
4. Unnamed others…
6 comments:
The blog will be very helpful and lots of fun. Thank you Jeff Cramer.
From the Town's perspective I think the first step should be a committmnent un the Cool Cities program. Check out coolcities.us and let me know what you think.
Bruce and Barb Fernald started off the new year by signing up for Maine Renewable Energy. It was easy to do on line. We will now be getting all of our Bangor Hydro electricity from hydro power and wind power. It might cost a little more, but what an incentive to turn off those lights and look for ways to cut back on energy use.
Wind Mills are a joke and this is why-the following is an excerpt from the Islander on a article about the windmill that Richard Beal has on Cranberry:
"I did it to improve my property and make the last years of my life easier,” said Mr. Beal. “I see this as a capital investment to my property and a benefit to my children. It’s for their future, not mine."
"The total cost of the project was about $65,000. Living on an outer island meant he had to bring in materials and equipment by barge, in addition to other costs including concrete anchors, clearing land, and buying expensive parts. “There were a lot of additional costs that you don’t normally think of,” said Mr. Beal. They included $760 for turnbuckles to tighten the guy wires holding up the tower and shackles at $35 each. “I wanted to do it correctly and be able to have confidence in its ability to stay up in a high-wind area. I had to make sure I could go to bed at night and it would still be standing in the morning,” he said."
"Despite the collaboration of others, this is Mr. Beal’s baby. “It was my money so I made the decisions and did the homework,” he said."
"When asked if he thinks the high price of installation means that a similar project wouldn’t be feasible for most people, he said “no.”
So at the end of the day does it pay for Itself? Resounding NO!
In response to the last comment:
I applaud the construction of the windmill on Cranberry. With an average annual generation of about 13,000 kwh x .17 (gen, distr.and trans) = $2211 a year + an optional $ 200 to 300 a year RECS = around $2,500 a year. So in answer to your statement, NO the turbine does pay itself, albeit in 26 years.
Now on to the substantive response. Beyond the economics listed above, which by the way assumes energy prices will stay the same, which they will not, putting up this wind turbine represent one person doing there part to almost ELIMINATE their home electrical carbon footprint. Beyond any ethical reasons for erecting this turbine, which to some should never be considered (specifically those that find global warming to be a 'hoax'), there is no “one way” to execute a wind project, and this example is only one.
If 100 members of the same or similar community were to communally purchase a 100kw turbine, at a cost of $200k installed (other similar projects have been done at or below this cost), utilizing current net metering and billing laws, the project would pay itself off in between 4 and 6 years. Over the course of 20 years, the project would offer between a 350 and 480% return! This is with current law, at current prices (I can supply all the stats if requested... wait I will!)
$200,000 per turbine installed
-with average winds speeds of 15 mph
(Maine Islands- this info os available through the DOE)
Conservative
-functioning 95% of the year at 22.5% capacity
= 22.5 x 24 x 365 x .95 = 187,245 Kwh annually
x .09 (generation) + .08 (tran, dist) + .02 (REC) = $.19
= $35,576.55
Standard
-Functioning 99% of the year at 27.5% capacity
= 27.5 x 24 x 365 x .99 = 238,491 Kwh annually
= $45,313.29
Generous
= 30 x 24 x 365 x .995 = 261,486 Kwh annually
= $49,682.34
- 3% annually for maintenance cost
(See Paul Gipe)
Annual Revenue
= between $34,509.25 - $48,191.87
Payback
between 4.15 and 5.8 years
Thereafter
a total of between $490,027 and $761,417 over the next 15 years
a 20 year between 345% and 480% ROR
equivalent to an annual ...
By being “green,“ you can make between 6.5 and 8.5% return over the course of 20 years!
Again, the turbine on Cranberry is only one example. As demonstrated above, there are many others that can even appeal to those who don't care at all about the environment, and only care about the bottom line.
Lastly, the first time ALWAYS cost the most. So in that sentiment, thank you, thank you Mr. Beal for your erection! May there be many more!
By the way, that's 6.5 and 8.5% annual return. 2-4% more than your typical CD or Money Market!
Ohh, and that's with ZERO grants, subsidies or tax credits included!
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