BRIMFIELD - – A Boston-based energy company is well into the planning stages of constructing a series of wind turbines on West Mountain, located between Dunhamtown-Brimfield and Warren Roads, along what is locally known as the Steerage Rock ridge.
The private, for-profit, wind energy-company, First Wind, made a formal presentation to about 65 people at Hitchcock Free Academy on Tuesday, June 29.
A gathering with landowners and abutters was held on June 8, at which topics for this second meeting were discussed. First Wind will announce future meetings at a later date.
The first speaker, Patrick Quinlan, from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst’s Wind Energy Center, discussed the benefits of wind power, how much electricity wind can generate, features of a favorable site, decibel sound levels produced by various sources (although wind turbines were described as “not coming to nuisance levels”), and FAA lighting requirements. The “flicker effect” from wind turbines was briefly discussed.
The second speaker, David Velez, the project’s development manager, described First Wind as a company focused on utility-scale projects in the country. At Tuesday’s presentation and during telephone interviews, he described the West Mountain location as attractive for a potential site because of preliminary wind level readings from the company’s “met pole” (or anemometer) erected this April, the density level of nearby housing, the proximity of access roads and transmission lines, the hill’s grade, and studies which, he said, indicate so far that the site is not within an avian migration route or resident nesting area. The area is not considered pristine, he said, and also said that there are “no historical viewpoints” within the site, meaning that a preliminary response from an unspecified State agency indicates that the site is not on any registry of historic places that must be protected.
The company’s current design, he said, is to construct a 25-megawatt (MW) project consisting of eight, or possibly ten 2.5 MW wind turbines. He emphasized that the “final design is not complete.” He said that although the specifics may change, at this point the height of the turbines, to the tip of the uppermost blade, would be 450 feet, with a blade diameter of 300 feet. A 300-foot area under each machine would be cleared and remain a restricted zone, and access roads would need to be constructed.
Included in Velez’s presentation was a map view of a “hypothetical layout” of the 10 turbines; he stated that the number, size, and locations of the machines could change. In an email he declined to provide that image for publication at this time, saying, “In the future I hope to have a map that is more clear and we can use that to distribute (to the public).”
Also included was an “indicative photo simulation” of the West Mountain project based on a photo taken on a cloudy day from Warren Road.
The developer said that the power generated from the turbines would be conducted via medium voltage lines to existing National Grid transmission lines, located about one mile north of the site. At the ridge top, the voltage lines would be installed underground, he said. “A small substation would have to be built at that interconnection point to step the power up to the transmission lines,” Velez said.
Velez also said that projects such as this bring economic benefits to the host community, such as income for the landowners, tax revenues for the town, and income for local businesses from meals, lodging, and supplies. For this project, he said he expects about 150 construction jobs, and perhaps two to four full-time jobs. In a telephone interview he said that the company likes to hire local workers when possible, but that “some jobs require workers with special training or certification.” He said at Tuesday’s program that this type of development keeps 90 – 95 percent of the property in agricultural use and prevents development that would have more of an impact on the landscape.
The last speaker, Jim Shaw, an abutter to First Wind’s Mars Hill wind generating facility in Maine, showed photos of the wind turbines seen from various locations; the structures for that project, are 390 feet in height, roughly 60 feet shorter than those in the current design for the Brimfield project.
Shaw said that clearings for the turbines and access roads improved the view, because without the trees, one has a better vista. The structures and access roads, however, are located on private property. He went on to say that golfers at the local club and skiers on the mountain don’t mind the structures; when later asked about wildlife on the mountain he said that wildlife was often seen there and added, “I think they’re kind of fascinated by (the turbines).”
The company made available a variety of promotional materials, including its website for this specific project: www.brimfieldwind.com.
Currently Brimfield has no regulations for wind power, according to Planning Board Chairman Sheila McCarthy. “Over the next year the Planning Board will be developing a set of additional by-laws specifically for wind energy projects, and those proposed by-laws will be voted on by the townspeople at town meeting,” she said.
Before the meeting started, when asked about the project, Brimfield resident Sue Hilker said, “I think it’s wonderful. Every time I see an oil-soaked penguin, I’ll think so even more.”
After the meeting concluded, Brimfield resident Jim Mitchell had a different view. “I don’t see a lot of economic benefit from it within the town; it’s just not worth it.” His wife, Jean, said, when asked about the visual impact, “It’s a deal breaker. I give it a no vote.”
During the first week in July, First Wind representatives had plans to attend the Brimfield Board of Selectmen’s meeting and a Planning Board meeting.
Brimfield Cable Commission recorded the program and has begun airing it on its local access channel.