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Massachusetts Wind Working Group

Upcoming meeting

Topic:
Green Communities Act
Two speakers from the Dept. of Public Utilities and the Dept. of Energy Resources will update us on rulemaking relative to the Green Communities Act, particularly as it relates to wind energy in Massachusetts.
We will also tour the wind turbine repair facilities of Aeronautica Windpower, where the focus is on refurbishing turbines for the mid-scale marketplace
When:
Wednesday October 22nd 2008, 
3 to 5 pm.
Where:
Aeronautica Windpower in Plymouth, MA
RSVP:
Please RSVP before October 21st to Lynn Di Tullio

Mission
  • Promote smart and successful wind energy development in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  • Identify barriers and opportunities related to the development of wind energy.
  • Develop a strategic plan to support the creation of good wind projects.
  • Promote the public understanding of modern wind power, and its benefits and impacts
  • Create linkages between wind energy and other sectors to foster job creation and economic development in Massachusetts

Scope
Both small (residential/farm), and community and commercial-scale projects are included

Participants
  • The Wind Working Group is open to any interested party that supports the group's mission.
  • Stakeholders in Massachusetts wind power, including: DOE/NREL, DOER, DTE, ISO-New England, utilities, RERL, environmental groups, developers, and farming and rural interests

About Wind Working Groups

Previous Meetings
Meetings are open to the public.
  • Formation meeting minutes, Mar 7, 2005, in Boston
  • Friday, April 1st, , MTC in Westborough, Agenda Minutes.
  • Wednesday, May 11, Mass DOER., Boston, Minutes
  • Wednesday, June 8, 2005, UMass Amherst, MA., Agenda , Minutes, including activities of the 5 Subcommittees
  • Wednesday, September 28, 2005, National Grid USA. Agenda, Minutes
  • January 18, 2006, Mass Division of Energy Resources, Boston: Agenda, Minutes
  • May 31st, 2006, Location: Waltham, Minuteman Wind. Topic: Recent Installations in Massachusetts: Mass Maritime & Hull Wind II. Agenda. Minutes.
  • August 29, 2006, at the Mass Division of Energy Resources. Subject: Cooperative Development of Copenhagens offshore wind project, a presentation by Jens Larsen, engineer and organizer of Middelgrunden, the cooperatively owned offshore wind power project in Copenhagens harbor. He also offered us some more material, including this more technical presentation on operations &  maintenance, and this article on Middelgrunden Wind farm and this one on local financing of wind projects.  Minutes.
  • Nov 9, 2006, at UMass Amherst. Topic: Policy Options for Renewable Energy Incentives: the view from Europe, by Dr. Jim Manwell, PhD, Director of the UMass Renewable Energy Research Laboratory. Followed by an open house at the Renewable Energy Research Laboratory, with a demonstration of RERLs SODAR mobile wind resource monitoring equipment (Sonic Detection and Ranging device).
  • Feb 21, 2007, at Mass Bay College, Wellesley. Topic: Utility Interconnection of Wind Power, with speakers: Sally Wright, UMass RERL; Henri Daher, National Grid; David Forrest, ISO New England; Fran Cummings, MTC's DG Collaborative; Ed Kremzier, National Grid; George Aronson, CommonWealth Resource Management Corporation. Minutes.
  • Tour of ISO New England control room: Mar 28,2007 in Holyoke.
  • Wed, May 30, 2007 at Mass Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay.
    Subject: Birds, Wind and Energy  with speakers:                
    • Mass Audubon scientist Taber Allison on the current research on avian/wind interaction, including the broader context of climate change and habitat impacts of fossil fuel use.
    • And Dr. Lucy Vlietstra, Marine Science professor at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, presented her findings on "Potential Impact of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy Wind Turbine on Common and Roseate Terns."
    • Afterwards, MMA's Rick Gurnon offered a tour of their 660-kW Vestas V47, installed last Spring.
  • Wed, Sept. 26th at UMass Boston. The Commonwealth's New Direction for Wind Power; Policy, goals, strategies, programs & permitting
    Speakers: Philip Giudice, DOER, and Greg Watson & David Cash, EOEEA
    Governor Patrick envisions Massachusetts taking the lead in renewable energy. Three key policy makers in the states new office of energy and environment will join us to speak about implementing this vision:
    • Philip Giudice, Commissioner of the Division of Energy Resources (DOER)
    • David Cash, Undersecretary for Policy, at the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA), and
    • Greg Watson, Senior Advisor for Clean Energy Technology at the EOEEA, and Vice President for Sustainable Development of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative
  • Tuesday, January 22nd 2008, at the Mass Division of Energy Resources. Topic: The Green Communities Act
  • Wednesday, April 16th 2008.  Topic: Muni's on Fire for Wind Energy: The Templeton Story and Offshore Wind and Chapter 91: Impacts on Development in the Coastal Zone
  • Wednesday, June 25th, 2008. Topic:Innovative Financing and Ownership Models for Community Scale Wind Projects, with speakers: Dana Harris, NewPath Energy on MassWind and Wind Project Funding; Kevin Schulte, of EOS Ventures; and Margaret Downey, of Cape & Vineyard Electric Coop. Q&A notes.

      Subcommittee Meetings

      For More Information
      Contact Lynn Di Tullio at the Renewable Energy Research Lab: 413-545-4359
       
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