Photo: anl.gov
In the past, I’ve been bothered by plans being developed in shoreline communities, particularly here in Massachusetts, for wind systems in the Berkshires 100 miles inland. It has seemed odd that these towns wouldn’t want to generate wind-based power nearer to home, where they could site the generators on town property and save a great deal of maintenance and property rental and/or upkeep money. This doesn’t even count the fact that the wind is much more reliable near the shore.
In the Saugus (MA) Advertiser, there’s an article that indicates a movement in that town toward locally owned and sited wind turbines. The proposal would use land the town already owns, either small parcels or larger areas along an abandoned roadbed. The plan seems well thought out and well presented, and the hope is that state funding will help with the siting and construction projects.
I am a strong supporter of community-owned alternative energy systems, and I hope that other coastal towns will see Saugus as a forward-looking community with its priorities in good order.
See the article at Saugus Advertiser.