Cape & Islands News

Boston airport installs its own wind farm

So much for the worry about turbines and airplanes

No, those are not propeller-driven airplanes that mistakenly landed on Logan International Airport's headquarters this week.

Boston Logan to Receive 20 Building-Integrated Wind Turbines

By Walter Brooks


An worker installs one of Logan's 20 turbines on the administration building overlooking Boston Harbor and the airport approaches.The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) announced this week the installation of 20 building-integrated wind turbines at Boston Logan International Airport. Massport has partnered with AeroVironment of Monrovia, CA. and Groom Energy Solutions of Salem. to install the six foot in diameter wind turbines on the roof of the Logan Office Center at the airport. The demonstration project is expected to provide electrical output of approximately 100,000 kwh annually, or about 2 percent of the buildings monthly energy use.

One of the major objections to the proposed Cape Wind farm in Nantucket sound has been concerns voiced about whether airplanes taking off and landing at the Hyannis airport some ten miles to its north might be  somehow bothered by the turbines.

Logan Airport's installation this week of twenty turbines at the top of it's headquarters overlooking the flight paths of planes carrying 28 million passengers a year would seem to answer that concern by anyone except zealots.

Project will expand to other airports
With construction already begun this week, Massport expects the wind turbines to be functioning and generating renewable energy in the spring. If the demonstration project meets its goal of reducing building energy, Massport will consider expanding the turbine installations to other Massport facilities. Along with wind turbines, Massport is evaluating other proven renewable energy technologies at its facilities including, solar power, geothermal technology, and fuel cell applications.

Massport is a national leader in embracing environmental initiatives and has developed the first LEED certified airport terminal in the world; the first ISO 14001 airport, container terminal and bridge in the US; and a number of innovative air quality emission reduction programs, including preferred hybrid and alternative fuel vehicle parking. Logan’s 32 shuttle buses logged their 11-millioneth clean air mile recently and currently, nearly thirty percent of all passenger and employee trips to Logan are in High Occupancy Vehicles (HOV), one of the highest HOV access mode shares among US airports.

“Renewable energy and energy conservation are among Governor Patrick’s highest priorities,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles. “I applaud Massport for the example it is setting today, installing wind turbines to help power the Logan Office Center, and pursuing renewable energy opportunities at its other facilities.”
The 1000 watt wind turbine system provides clean, reliable, non-polluting electric power. Each module fastens to the parapet of a building, weighs approximately 90 pounds and measures approximately six feet in height and eight feet in width. This urban turbine is a unique design, intended to continue to produce electricity under turbulent wind conditions and in both low and high wind speed environments.  

The turbines will provide an annual electrical output of approximately 100,000 kwh and save the Authority $13,000 annually
Average monthly demand for electricity at the Logan Office Center is 407kw with an average monthly energy usage of 291,000 kwh. Massport expects that the wind turbines will provide an annual electrical output of approximately 100,000 kwh and save the Authority $13,000 annually in utility costs with additional energy savings to be pursued.

Boston Logan serves as the gateway to Cape Cod and the six-state New England region with a population of over 14 million and annual visitors in excess of 20 million.  It offers nonstop service to 77 domestic and 32 international destinations and has more low fare flights than any airport in New England. Last year the airport handled 28.1 million passengers.
The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) operates Boston Logan International Airport, the Port of Boston, Tobin Memorial Bridge, Hanscom Field and Worcester Regional Airport.  Massport is a financially self-sustaining public authority whose premier transportation facilities generate more than $8 billion every year and enhance and enable economic growth and vitality in New England