HomeMy Public PortalAboutRenewable Energy Minutes 2009-08-31 a�� N Orleans Renewable Energy / Wind Power Committee
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Special Meeting Minutes of Committee Meeting
August 31 2009 rn
A Special Meeting of the Renewable energy/Wind Power Committee(REWPC)was held orGkugWR
31, 2009 at the Orleans Town Hall. In attendance were Chair Allen Kolchinsky,members Igve I
Hubbard, Victor Noerdlinger,Mary Jane Curran,Dick Philbrick,Bob McCoy, and Ken Rov71. om
Others present: John Janell,Planning Dept. liaison; Paul Rooker,Finance Com. liaison; Sfis�s -p
McGrath Jr. BOS Rep. John Hodgkinson, and Ken McKusick, Chair of Board of Water andewe—n
Commissioners.
Meeting was called to Order at 3:58PM
Minutes of the August 17th meeting were approved with spelling corrections and a minor correction
giving Dick P. credit for bringing up item of meeting with Town Admin. on a liaison to CVEC and
forming a new Energy Committee.
Chair brought up the fact the planned meeting of area Energy Committees in Harwich on Sept. 23
was cancel and rescheduled for Oct 15th at the same time and place.
Mary Jane Curran informed Committee that Steven Clarke from the State called to say he would be
in contact after Labor Day on the use of the Exit 12 Cloverleaves.
Old Business:
John Janell discussed the recent pro forma"s from the CVEC on the proposed wind turbines in the
watershed. John thanked John Hodgkinson for asking CVEC for them and getting them to us.
These will give the REWPC a chance to review and compare the information of the CVEC model to
the municipal model already considered. The information from the CVEC included two projects.
One was for a 1.5k wind turbine and the other was for a 1.5k and a 660k. The information included
the rough estimates of costs, etc for each project. The CVEC appears to lean toward larger wind
turbine, generally 1.5k or larger. It also would prefer to have more than one turbine to order at a
time to reduce costs for construction. Many questions need to be answered with the CVEC model.
Some of them are: Will there be two lease payments if two turbines are installed? Do we have to
order two? Will the sites on the watershed be treated separately? What size will be installed? What
will the price be? Why was there one proposal with one large and one small turbine? How are
excess profits distributed?
The 2 sites at the watershed are cleared for wind turbines. Originally two 1.62k turbines were
proposed. The sites were cleared through the State for construction of turbines.
Brewster and Harwich have both requested 2 turbines each from the CVEC. They are moving ahead
rapidly in the turbine arena.
Other topics covered were Capacity Factors for turbines,power purchase agreements and cost to
town, demand charges will not be avoided, lease payments to town, chance to renew the power
purchase agreements.
An area of concern is what would happen if other energy costs fall below the cost of the turbine
costs. There has been some reduction of costs,primarily in natural gas which may affect the market.
REWPC needs to compare the two models and make a recommendation to the Board of Water&
Sewer Commissioners and the Board of Selectman. There are pro's and con's of both the Municipal
model and the CVEC model. REWPC has to revisit the Municipal model since that is the model
The check has been sent to the CVEC for membership. A Director needs to be appointed too.
There is a meeting of the BWSC on September 2 and members of the REWPC are to attend if
possible to support Chair Kolchinsky.
The Clean Energy Choice program has over$16,000 available for the town to use. REWPC
currently planning on the purchasing of 2 solar compactors at about$6,000 which leaves about
$10,000 for other purposes. Possible use includes the combining with left over funds from Article 3
and put toward further information gathering to assist the wind turbines. John Kelly, Town Admin.,
will submit the application.
Adjou at 5:37P
David L. Hubbard, Clerk