Mar 12, 2008 11:30 pm US/Eastern
Government Debates Where To Put Wind Turbines
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
All this week, the federal government is holding hearings about the proposal to put the nation's first off shore wind farm in Nantucket Sound. But there is also a lot of confusion when it comes to where to put them on land, despite polls showing most people support renewable energy.
Many cities and towns across the state are trying to catch up with this new technology. Right now there are about 40 turbines in the state, with another 150 being proposed.
John Donovan would like to build a turbine in a commercial area of Manchester-by-the-Sea. It could help defer some of the $15,000 a month he spends on electricity for his 4,000 member athletic club. But getting that tower built in this North Shore community is challenging.
Wayne Melville, the town administrator, says "We discovered that by right, in our residential districts, people could put up a small residential windmill, yet in our commercial district. . .it was specifically not allowed."
With a steady ocean breeze, Manchester-by-the-Sea could be idea for wind power, so now town leaders are trying to amend zoning laws to make everyone happy.
Melville explains, "If you believe in green power, if you believe that this is a technology whose time as come, then you are all for it. On the other hand, there is some sense that we need to be very careful about where we let these facilities be sited."
For a business man like Donovan, who is willing to invest up to $1.5 million, the process is arduous, and the laws are hopelessly outdated. "Oh, I have wanted to give up many, many times. There is no doubt, it's very very challenging."
Ian Bowles, State Secretary for Energy and the Environment, agrees that many laws created in the 19th and 20th century are having trouble keeping up with the developments of the 21st century.
"I think that's entirely accurate, and we need to take a big step forward." Bowles says that is the case because wind power is very important to the state's future. "Wind is environmentally terrific and also helps us to manage our energy costs."
Right now, the state provides voluntary guidelines for communities, but when asked if the state is doing enough to prompt this type of development, he says "well, we are just getting started making it as easy as we need to."
John Donovan says the state needs mandatory guidelines to help cities and towns, or else we will never end our dependence on foreign oil, or clean up the environment.
Wind power is responsible for only about three percent of all the electricity created in the United States, but it is growing fast. In fact, a third of the new power brought online last year was from wind.
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