Letters to the Editor

9 out of 10 in Yarmouth want renewable energy systems installed

Yarmouth wants wind or solar as power source
2,500 households respond to questionnaire

The 7th Annual Land-Based Wind Workshop, titled "Putting Wind to Work in a Changing Climate" held April 17th (at the Cape Cod and Islands Association of Realtors Conference Room at 22 Mid-Tech Drive in West Yarmouth) was outstanding - the following eleven speakers all gave excellent presentations. Speakers were: Megan Amsler, ED of Cape and Islands Self Reliance; Chris Powicki, Principal, WEEInfo Services; Greg Watson, Sr. Advisor of Clean Energy Technology, MA Dept. of Energy Resources; Steven Clark (Director of Wind Development, MA Dept. of Energy Resources); Meg Lusardi, Deputy Director of Green Communities Division, MA Dept. of Energy Resources); Tyler Leeds, Project Manager, Mass. Renewable Energy Trust; Thomas McGarr, Area Director, USDA; Gerry Palano, Renewable Energy Coordinator, MA Dept. of Agricultural Resources; Diana Duffley, co-owner of Hyannis Country Garden; Bob Shatten, Principal, Boreal Renewable Energy Development; and Dan Webb, President, Notus Clean Energy, LLC.
My comments in the attached were approved by: John (Jack) Howard, Chairman of the Town of Yarmouth's Energy Committee; Diana Duffley; and Dan Webb. The Co-Sponsors of the Workshop were: Waquoit Bay Reserve Coastal Training Program, MA Dept. of Conservation and Recreation; Cape and Islands Self Reliance; and Cape and Islands Renewable Energy Collaborative.

Nine of ten Yarmouth households want wind and solar equipment installed to reduce town energy costs. 92 percent of the 2,500 households who responded to a written questionnaire believe Yarmouth should use renewable energy to produce its own electricity, per information provided by John Howard, Yarmouth Energy Committee's Chairman at the April 17th Land-Based Wind Workshop sponsored by Waquoit Bay NERR and Cape and Islands Self Reliance. Detailed questions also asked where to install town wind turbines, and about solar panels. Of five turbine locations the Energy Committee identified, the three most popular were Yarmouth's Septage Treatment facility (favored by 63%), Yarmouth's Water Division Headquarters, and town land behind Yarmouth's Police Headquarters and Mattacheese School.

The well-attended Workshop provided up-to-date wind developments and Grant opportunities from federal, state and regional speakers, and wind turbine project case studies - plus Q&A and networking time. The first case study was Hyannis Country Garden's 100 kilowatt wind turbine, which began generating power in early January. Co-owner Diana Duffley welcomed her recent "No Payment Needed" electric bill, and is proud their wind turbine offsets harmful annual emissions: Carbon Dioxide, 114 tons; Sulfur Dioxide, 986 pounds; and Nitrous Oxides, 354 pounds.

Dan Webb, Notus Clean Energy LLC's President described the second Cape Cod case study, Notus' 1.5 megawatt turbine in East Falmouth's Technology Park. Awaiting final approval, it will be similar to the turbine being installed soon at the Town of Falmouth's nearby Wastewater Treatment plant. Sited on a 180 foot hilltop remote from houses, Notus' turbine will be powered by strong winds off Buzzards Bay.

Separately, a recent news article said Cape Cod Community College's long-planned wind turbine could be in operation by late fall.

These and other wind turbines cut electricity costs, and improve our environment and health - all are urgently needed.

Jim Liedell
Yarmouth Port