A Wind Powering America Project — Newsletter #5 — January 2010

Two 600-kW wind turbines were installed on Deer Island in August 2009 next to the 

wastewater treatment facility’s anaerobic digesters. Due to their proximity to Logan 

Airport, these generators were installed on unusually short 32-meter towers.

WIND AND HYDROPOWER TECHNOLOGIES 

PROGRAM

continued on page 2 >Kathryn Craddock, Sustainable Energy Advantage, LLC/PIX16710

Wind Projects Sprout Throughout 

New England

NEWF is pleased to provide you with its fifth edition of the 

electronic NEWF newsletter. This newsletter provides updates 

on a broad range of project proposals and policy initiatives 

across New England during the funding hiatus...consider it a 

“catch-up” double issue. In past newsletters, we’ve relied on 

wind farm photo-simulations, photos of early construction 

activity, or graphs of regional development activity to visually 

convey the progress of wind development activity in the 

region. In this issue, you will find pictures of projects sprouting 

throughout New England, and in the future, we’ll encounter 

the new challenge of choosing from among more options than 

we can fit in one issue! In fact, the volume and distribution 

of wind development activity is starting to make the online 

The New England Wind Forum Returns

We’re glad to say we’re back. Commencing in the third quarter 

of 2009, with a renewed commitment from NREL and 

Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust, NEWF will resume 

activity with a biannual newsletter distribution and periodic 

policy and project updates to the Web site. 

At NEWF, our goal is to develop and provide a source of 

thorough, current, and objective information for informed 

decision-making. NEWF’s audience includes:

•	 Individuals and organizations in communities hosting

existing or proposed wind projects, interested in putting 

a wind turbine on their property, or with a general interest 

in wind energy

•	 Federal, state, and local legislators, policymakers, and

regulators

•	 Energy educators.

With more than 100 wind energy projects under development 

across New England, we believe community leaders, public 

officials, educators, and interested citizens need a resource like

NEWF to sort through the conflicting information generated 

by project proponents and opponents. 

Check out the NEWF Web site for recently updated information on state policies and initiatives (http://www.windpowering

america.gov/ne_state_activities.asp), as well as state-by-state 

wind project status and issue updates, a calendar of regional 

meetings and events, and links to Web sites. Additional 

features and topics may be added if state co-funding permits. 

The NEWF Web site (http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/

newengland.asp) content will be updated three times per year. 

In This Issue

•	 The New England Wind Forum Returns... p. 1

•	 Wind Projects Sprout throughout New England... p. 1

•	 Hot Topics... p. 2

•	 Commercial-Scale Wind Project Update... p. 5

•	 Community-Scale and Customer-Sited Wind Project

Update... p. 8

•	 State and Regional Wind Policy Updates... p. 10

•	 Federal Policy Initiatives... p. 15

•	 Perspectives... p. 15

•	 Small Wind Corner... p. 17

•	 Cool Links... p. 18

•	 Events... p. 18

Doug Welch, Courtesy of Hull Municipal Lighting Plant/PIX11261
2 New England Wind Forum — January 2010

WIND AND HYDROPOWER TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM

NEWF wind project maps rather crowded and increasingly 

difficult to read. As a result, we’ll revise the NEWF wind 

project maps (http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/ne_

projects.asp) in the coming months to improve usability.

This issue updates our readers on the status of many of the 

commercial-scale wind projects that have reached or are 

nearing operation, as well as many others under development. 

It also catalogues the status of many 100-kW to 1.65-MW

community-scale and customer-sited wind turbine installations throughout the region. The newsletter also summarizes

key government initiatives that have taken place since the last 

edition: new or amended policies driving demand for wind, 

creating revenue stability necessary for financing, or accelerating and clarifying the process by which a favorable or 

unfavorable siting/permitting decision can be reached. And, 

as you will read in our Hot Topics section, we discuss how

regional policymakers and ISO New England, the regional

grid operator, are now envisioning and planning for a future 

in which wind power becomes a material part of the New 

England power supply mix.

Hot Topics

New England Governors Adopt Renewable Energy 

Blueprint Based on ISO-NE Wind Energy Scenario Analysis, 

Addressing Future Policy Direction on Regional Wind Energy 

Development and Related Transmission

Earlier this year, the New England States Committee on

Electricity (NESCOE) requested that the Independent System

Operator of New England (ISO-NE) conduct a Renewable

Development Scenario Analysis, or RDSA, to inform the

New England Governors’ and other policy-makers’ decisions 

about the best way to accomplish their renewable energy and 

environmental policy objectives. The purpose of the RDSA

was to help identify the significant sources of renewable energy 

available to New England, the means to reliably distribute 

them within the region’s power grid, and the estimated cost of 

energy for generation and transmission. The RDSA considered

a range of scenario analyses for wind development through 

2030, considering from 2,000 MW up to 12,000 MW of wind 

within the region (on land and offshore) as well as imported 

from eastern Canadian provinces, and a range of conceptual 

but realistic transmission scenarios necessary to transport 

that wind to load. See ISO-NE Draft Economic Study Report

(http://www.nescoe.com/uploads/iso_eco_study_report_draft_

sept_8.pdf) (Renewable Development Scenario Analysis),

September 8, 2009, and related summary presentation (http://

www.raabassociates.org/Articles/Rourk 9-18-09 Roundtable.

pptx).

On September 15, 2009, the New England Governors adopted

the NESCOE Renewable Energy Blueprint (http://www.

nescoe.com/uploads/September_Blueprint_9.14.09_for_

release.pdf) (subtitled “Working to Serve New England with

Low-Carbon, Secure, Cost-Effective Energy Resources”)

at the Annual Conference of New England Governors and 

Eastern Canadian Premiers in Saint John, New Brunswick.

The Blueprint, based on the RDSA, is intended to provide

regional input to individual state policies. The New England 

Governors’ Resolution (http://www.nescoe.com/uploads/

Wind Energy vs. Load Centers 

(Source: Economic Study for the New England Governors: Renewable Development 

Scenario Analyses, Sept. 18, 2009. Presentation by Stephen Rourke, V.P. System Planning, 

ISO New England, at the New England Electricity Restructuring Roundtable.)

< continued from page 1

Please check the site regularly for updates on the projects

and policies most interesting to you, and provide us with 

your feedback at newf@seadvantage.com. We value your 

suggestions.

Although it’s great to be back, the current funding level 

is reduced from past years, while the level of wind power 

activity and the need for a thorough source of objective 

information have increased dramatically. So we’ll seek

additional co-funding from state government and other 

non-industry sources to fulfill our objectives. Stay tuned

for news on our progress.
New England Wind Forum — January 2010 3

WIND AND HYDROPOWER TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM

NEGC_Blueprint_Resolution.pdf) outlined a number of key 

points, including:

•	 “...the New England Governors authorize their regulatory

and policy officials to use the Blueprint as a resource to help

support development of New England’s renewable resources 

in their public advocacy, rulemaking, policy development 

and other initiatives”’ and

•	 “...the New England Governors authorize their regulatory

and policy officials to review the availability of renewable 

resources in the region, including those identified in the 

Blueprint, and to consider potential mechanisms for the

joint or coordinated but separate competitive procurement 

of renewable resources, and to report the results of such 

review to the Governors within the next 12 months.”

Some of the blueprint conclusions on the RDSA are summarized here:

•	 “There is a vast quantity of commercial-scale and advanced

untapped renewable resources in the New England region; 

this includes more than 10,000 MW of on-shore and offshore wind power potential. Even if developed at conservative levels, there are ample renewable resources to enable 

New England to meet renewable energy goals and to reduce 

reliance on carbon-emitting generation....”

•	 “All of the wind resource potential could provide downward

pressure on the marginal prices for energy within the New 

England electricity market, ...this price pressure would 

ultimately benefit New England consumers.”

•	 “In-region development of renewables and access to renewable energy from neighboring systems appears possible with 

significantly less capital investment for transmission infrastructure than would be required to import an equivalent 

quantity of power from more remote, out-of-region sources 

on new, high-voltage transmission lines.”

For more info, see the NESCOE Presentation on the Blueprint

(http://www.nescoe.com/Governors_Blueprint_Draft_Power_

Point_9.14.09.pdf).

ISO New England Gets Serious About Wind

In addition to performing the Renewable Development 

Scenario Analysis, regional grid operator ISO New England

recently paid attention to the current and future role of wind 

power in New England. Areas of focus include transmission system planning (whether to build transmission lines 

to support wind development, where to build them, and if 

so, how to pay for them) and addressing the technical challenges of integrating the substantial amounts of variable wind 

generation required by the region’s environmental policy initiatives into the system (as they relate to planning, operations, 

and markets).

ISO New England addresses transmission system planning

through its Regional System Plan, or RSP process. In July, ISO

New England released a draft of the 2009 Regional System

Plan (RSP09) for review by the Planning Advisory Committee

(PAC). The draft RSP identified system needs and includes

solutions and processes required to ensure the reliable and 

economic performance of the New England power system, 

including a number of wind-energy-related scenarios. ISO’s

final RSP09 report is available at www.iso-ne.com/trans/

rsp/2009/rsp09_final.pdf.

To address wind integration issues, ISO New England solicited proposals in early 2009 for a wind integration study. As 

a result, ISO commissioned a team comprised of General

Electric, Enernex, and AWS Truewind to perform the study,

with General Electric serving as the project leader. The study 

should be completed during the summer of 2010. A Technical 

Review committee was established to review the study, and 

the scenario assumptions posed are reviewed with the ISO’s

Planning Advisory Committee (PAC). ISO New England’s

objectives for this study include:

•	 Understanding New England-specific wind characteristics and how it will interact with load, generation, and 

transmission

•	 Determining forecast needs and techniques

•	 Developing operating requirements and solutions.

In August 2009, the PAC released an update on the New

England Wind Integration Study (NEWIS), a comprehensive

study highlighting the operation effects of large-scale wind on 

the ISO-NE system using statistical and simulation analysis

and taking into account potential wind energy imports and 

future offshore wind development. An August 19 presentation (http://www.iso-ne.com/committees/comm_wkgrps/

prtcpnts_comm/pac/mtris/2009/aug192009/a_newis.pdf) lists 

the “common scenario assumptions” and sensitivity cases, 

which include variations in supply- and demand-side resources, 

transmission availability, and wind resource. Stakeholder

comments were received on this scenario framework in 

early September, and the analysis phase of the study is now

underway. At its September 10 public Planning Advisory

Committee meeting on the 2009 Regional System Plan (http://

www.iso-ne.com/trans/rsp/2009/rsp09_public_meeting_slides.

pdf), ISO-NE stated that the NEWIS will provide (a) information from studies performed by other organizations,

technical requirements for interconnecting large amounts of 

wind, mesoscale wind forecasting and wind plant models, and 

scenario analyses that will lead to recommendations for modifying existing procedures, guidelines, and standards to reliably 

integrate large amounts of wind resources. The NEWIS team

– which includes representatives from GE, EnerNex, and AWS

Truewind, and technical reviewers from UWIG, AWEA, wind

and transmission developers, wind resource experts, and independent system operators – met frequently through the first 

half of 2009 and expects to complete its study in the summer 

of 2010.
4 New England Wind Forum — January 2010

WIND AND HYDROPOWER TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM

Offshore Wind Initiatives Gain Momentum

Offshore wind initiatives in New England continue to gain

momentum in Rhode Island, Maine, and Massachusetts. In 

Rhode Island, the state’s Office of Energy Resources selected

Deepwater Wind to construct the state’s first offshore wind 

farms. The projects are divided into two distinct phases: 

approximately 10 MW adjacent to Block Island to be sited

in state waters and a much larger wind farm at a to-be-determined location in federal waters. It is expected that the results 

of a Special Area Management Plan (SAMP) permitting

process will dictate where the project will be located. See the

Rhode Island page (http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/

ne_astate_template.asp?stateab=ri#siting) of the NEWF Web 

site for more information on the SAMP.

Source: Maine Department of Conservation

The Maine Ocean Energy Task Force released interim findings

(http://www.maine.gov/spo/specialprojects/OETF/Documents/

OETF_InterimReport.pdf). Additionally, the Task Force meets 

regularly to update the offshore energy test center identification process and facilitate a dialogue focused on renewable 

ocean energy economics and how a small state like Maine can 

incentivize offshore energy development. In June 2009, the

Maine Legislature passed LD 1465 directing the Department

of Conservation, in consultation with the Maine State

Planning Office, to select up to five locations within Maine

state waters to be designated as “Ocean Energy Testing Areas.”

The state has identified seven offshore areas (see map) that it 

believes could be suitable for testing offshore wind. One site

will be designated as a wind energy research center operated by 

the University of Maine. Private company interest will determine development on any other sites, but state officials must 

designate the site(s) by December 15.

The demonstration projects could test components needed to 

develop deep-water offshore wind projects, including floating 

platforms, anchoring systems, and blade composites. A private 

company would enter into a 5-year lease with the state for the

submerged land over which the wind station would float.

Massachusetts continues to focus significant resources on the 

potential siting and development of offshore wind projects. 

Governor Patrick signed the Oceans Act in 2008, which

established a comprehensive management plan for ocean 

development and addressed the circumstances under which 

offshore wind energy development may be considered a 

permitted use. The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy

and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) released the draft ocean

energy plan (http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eoeeaterminal&

L=3&L0=Home&L1=Ocean+%26+Coastal+Management

&L2=Massachusetts+Ocean+Plan&sid=Eoeea&b=termina

lcontent&f=eea_oceans_draft_mop&csid=Eoeea) at the end 

of June 2009. The plan identifies several offshore areas where

ocean energy projects can be built within 3 miles of the coast. 

The plan would allow the state’s six coastal regional planning 

authorities the option to permit the building of small offshore 

wind farms that are comprised of up to 10 turbines each in 

state coastal waters, while larger projects could be built in only 

two locations comprising a tiny fraction of the involved area: 

off Cape Cod near Cuttyhunk Island and adjacent to another 

island near Martha’s Vineyard. The state plan aims to spare 

ecologically sensitive areas; therefore, developers must demonstrate that their projects will not pose an undue environmental 

burden on the site. While the draft plan gives refusal rights 

to the community in whose waters a wind farm is proposed, 

it does not give similar rights to adjacent communities. The 

draft plan is not without controversy, as in mid-September

the Martha’s Vineyard communities, in reaction to the plan, 

sought a vote to impose a moratorium on all large-scale wind 

power developments on the Island and in surrounding waters. 

The Lempster Wind Farm in Lempster, New Hampshire.

Iberdrola Renewables/PIX16711
New England Wind Forum — January 2010 5

WIND AND HYDROPOWER TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM

Commercial-Scale Wind Project Update

Because of land ownership patterns, topography, population

density, and alternative land uses, wind farms in New England 

tend to be smaller than those developed farther west, which 

typically include several dozen to hundreds of wind turbines

installed in expansive spaces. In New England, projects range 

from a few to 30 turbines or more, with limited plans for larger 

projects either offshore or in far northern Maine. During the 

past year, two new commercial-scale projects came online, 

with several additional projects soon to follow. Also, two of 

the projects under development for the longest period of time 

came to opposite conclusions, and one turbine from New 

England’s first demonstration-scale wind farm suffered an 

untimely demise. 

In August 2008, construction commenced at the 44-turbine,

132-MW Kibby Mountain Wind Project, proposed by 

TransCanada for Kibby and Skinner Townships in the

Boundary Mountains. The first 66-MW phase (comprised

of 22 3-MW turbines) is expected to reach full commercial 

operation by the end of 2009. The remaining 66 MW should 

be operational by the fall of 2010. Once operational, Kibby

Mountain will become the largest wind project in New 

England.

In July 2009, the Berkshire Wind Power Cooperative –

owners of the Berkshire Wind Project – selected a construction contractor for a 10-turbine, 15-MW facility in western

Massachusetts. After more than a decade under development, 

the Cooperative expected to commission the project in early 

2010. However, construction stopped in October 2009 after

the Massachusetts Land Court granted an injunction in a 

dispute over the project’s access road to a real estate developer 

planning to build luxury condominiums on adjacent property. 

Although this lawsuit was filed in 2007, the “stop work order”

was not issued until October 2009. In the meantime, two of the

10 turbines were installed, and five more are under construction. As a result of this recent court order, the project’s timing 

and ultimate completion are uncertain.

In a highly unusual event, one of 11 Zond 550-kW turbines

at the Searsburg (VT) Wind Power Project – the first commercial-scale wind farm in New England commissioned in 1996 

– sustained major damage in September 2008 due to severe

weather associated with Hurricane Ike. The preliminary assessment, according to a spokesperson for project owner Green 

Mountain Power Company, is that a recently repaired blade

failed, hitting the tower and causing the rotor and nacelle to 

fall to the ground. The unit was damaged beyond repair and 

removed from the site.

Commercial-Scale Projects in Active Development

In August 2009, the Maine Department of Environmental 

Protection (DEP) approved Independence Wind’s permit application for the 22-turbine, 55-MW Record Hill Wind Project, 

proposed for Byron and Roxbury. Earlier in 2009, the Town of

Roxbury voted in favor of amending zoning regulations, which

allowed the project to meet zoning requirements. The project

is expected to be operational in late 2010. Independence Wind, 

a wind project development company co-founded by former 

Maine Governor Angus King, is also planning the Highland 

Plantation Wind Project. A meteorological tower has been in 

place for more than a year, and the developer is expected to 

file permit applications for a 120- to 140-MW project by the

end of 2009. (See the Perspectives section of this newsletter for

NEWF’s interview with Governor King.)

First Wind received permit approval in April 2009 on its 

application with the Maine DEP for its proposed 40-turbine,

60-MW Rollins Mountain project in the Maine towns of 

Lincoln, Burlington, and Lee. In August 2009, the Maine

Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) agreed with the

On Target Utility Services/PIX16712

On Target utility crews run fiber optic lines at First Wind’s Stetson Wind Project in 

Washington County, Maine. 

Commercial-Scale Projects In or Nearing Operation 

Iberdrola’s 12-turbine, 24-MW Lempster Wind Project, 

the first commercial-scale wind project in New Hampshire,

began commercial operation in November 2008. The official

ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on June 19, 2009, after the

completion of final site work and restoration. Public Service of

New Hampshire is expected to buy 90% of the power generated from the project, with minority partner New Hampshire

Electric Cooperative buying the remaining 10%.

First Wind’s second wind project in Maine – the 38-turbine,

57-MW Stetson Wind Project in Washington County – was 

completed in December 2008. A ribbon-cutting on January

22, 2009, marked the official start of commercial operation for what is currently the largest operating wind project 

in New England. On March 4, 2009, the Maine Land Use

Regulation Commission (LURC) gave final permit approval

of the Owl & Jimmey Mountain Project (a.k.a. Stetson Wind 

II), First Wind’s proposed 17-turbine, 25.5-MW expansion

of the Stetson Wind Project. LURC voted 5-0 to follow the

staff recommendations that had endorsed the project. On July

21, 2009, First Wind closed a $76 million, 1-year loan with

HSH Nordbank for the construction of this project, which is

expected to achieve commercial operation in mid 2010.
6 New England Wind Forum — January 2010

WIND AND HYDROPOWER TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM

DEP and rejected the May 2009 appeal by the Friends of

Lincoln Lakes group, which had argued that the DEP ignored

conflicting scientific evidence about the project’s potential 

impacts on residents and wildlife. The project has secured local 

building permits, and its interconnection feasibility study is 

nearing completion. The project is expected to be commercially operational in late 2010. First Wind has also filed with 

the Maine DEP for the 34-turbine, 51-MW Oakfield Wind 

Project. The DEP process probably will extend into 2010 but

would allow construction to commence by December 31, 

2010 (an important condition and date for any wind project 

to qualify for the Federal cash grant in lieu of the Investment 

Tax Credit and Production Tax Credit). The project will be

the first in Maine to be subject to operational guidelines that 

will require post-construction sound monitoring. The town is 

seeking implementation of a “Sound Complaint Response and

Resolution Protocol” as a condition of DEP approval.

On February 6, 2009, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that

the Public Service Board (PSB) was right to issue a Certificate

of Public Good (CPG) to First Wind’s Sheffield Wind Project. 

The project now needs only a storm-water permit – also under 

appeal – prior to construction, which has now been delayed 

into 2010. Sheffield’s CPG comes with a precedent-setting 32

conditions, which are sure to be the focus of project supporters 

and opponents throughout the project’s construction and operation. Once operational, power from the 16-turbine, 40-MW

project will be sold to three Vermont utilities. 

Since 2001, the 130-turbine, 468-MW Cape Wind Project

proposed for Nantucket Sound has been mired in the permitting process. In July 2008, the Energy Facilities Siting Board

(EFSB) exercised its jurisdiction over local entities like the

Cape Cod Commission to grant “all individual permits, 

approvals, or authorizations . . . necessary for the construction and operation” of a proposed energy facility if it is in the 

interest of the Commonwealth. As such, the EFSB has effectively overruled the Cape Cod Commission’s previous permit 

denial for building transmission lines. Evidentiary proceedings 

for this process took place in October 2008. In December 2008,

the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

(DEP) approved Cape Wind’s Chapter 91 waterways application. The Federal Mineral Management Service (MMS)

released its Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) in

January 2009, deeming the project environmentally sound. On

May 22, 2009, the EFSB voted unanimously to grant Cape

Wind the requested composite certificate of environmental 

impact and public interest. The acquisition of the composite 

certificate completes the necessary state and local permitting 

process for the project. The EFSB decision may be challenged

in Massachusetts Supreme Court under the premise that the

Board acted outside of its jurisdiction. If the decision stands,

only a Record of Decision by the Federal Secretary of Interior

is required before construction can begin on the 130 turbines 

in Nantucket Sound. However, this final approval was stalled

in spring 2009 when two local Indian tribes alleged that the 

proposed project violates Section 106 of the National Historic

Preservation Act, which protects artifacts and areas where

cultural ceremonies are practiced. In this case, the tribes assert 

that the turbines will impair their line of sight to the eastern 

sun, the unobstructed view of which is fundamental to the 

tribes’ religious practices. In addition, the tribes state that 

according to their oral tradition, Horseshoe Shoal – where

the foundations for the proposed turbines would be set in 

the ocean floor – is an ancient burial site and must not be 

disturbed. Core samplings to date have been unable to confirm 

this assertion. Once expected by year-end 2009, the date of a

final Record of Decision is now uncertain. If the Department 

of the Interior decision is favorable, an offshore lease with 

terms and conditions is expected to be drafted. The last steps 

in the federal process involve a Section 10 permit from the

Army Corps of Engineers and a new determination of no 

hazard from the Federal Aviation Administration. The project

still faces the task of securing contracts for its production in 

order to secure the necessary financing to proceed. 

The 20-turbine, 30-MW Hoosac Wind Project in Western 

Massachusetts remains the subject of an extended legal 

appeal process. In response to a DEP Wetlands appeal, in

January 2009 the Massachusetts Superior Court ruled that the

Massachusetts DEP was correct in issuing a wetland permit

to Iberdrola’s Hoosac Wind Project. The plaintiff’s requests

for an injunction and to have the permit remanded to DEP

were denied. Subsequently, the permit has been appealed to

the Massachusetts Appellate Court. The schedule for that 

proceeding has not yet been set, but it would likely play out 

in the spring of 2010. Should the Appellate Court rule in

favor of the developer, the permit could still be appealed to 

the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, which would have

discretion over whether to hear the case. In August 2008, the

project received a wetland permit (known as an Order of

Conditions) from the Towns of Monroe and Florida related 

to its transmission line and interconnection. The project also 

received its Certificate of Public Good from the EFSB. The

project is scheduled for commercial operation by the end of 

2011.

The Massachusetts National Guard is exploring the development of up to 17 wind turbines within the 22,000-acre

Massachusetts Military Reservation on Cape Cod. As one of 

its initial steps to determine site suitability, the Guard filed a 

site plan for review by the Federal Aviation Administration 

and Air Force Space Command. According to the Boston

Globe, the project – which could produce up to 34 MW – has

the support of community activists, including the Alliance to 

Protect Nantucket Sound. This is the first specific proposal

to construct a wind farm on state land (see article below 

discussing wind on state lands). 

The 12.5-MW Minuteman Wind Project submitted its Special

Permit Application to the Town of Savoy, Massachusetts, on

October 6, 2009. The project submitted its interconnection

application to Western Massachusetts Electric Company and 

studies are currently underway. 
New England Wind Forum — January 2010 7

WIND AND HYDROPOWER TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM

On July 15, 2009, the New Hampshire Site Evaluation

Committee (NHSEC) granted a certificate of site and facility,

with conditions, for Noble Environmental Power’s 99-MW

Granite Reliable Power Wind Project, under development 

in Coos County. The conditions in the certificate include a 

series of pre- and post-construction monitoring requirements, 

wetlands and high-elevation mitigation plans, water quality 

maintenance, and a detailed decommissioning plan. From start 

to finish, the SEC process lasted almost 1 year. The project,

which calls for 33 3-MW turbines, still requires several additional permits and approvals.

On April 16, 2009, the VT Public Service Board (PSB)

approved the Section 248 application for a Certificate of Public

Good (CPG) for Iberdrola’s Deerfield Wind Project (also 

referred to as the Searsburg expansion). As the state’s “onestop” permit, the CPG authorizes the construction and operation of the 15-turbine, 30-MW generating facility. Since the

project is located within the Green Mountain National Forest, 

however, project developers must complete a federal NEPA

analysis before the Forest Service can issue a Special Use

Permit. The state’s 248 Order of Conditions includes requirements to mitigate the wind farm’s impact on the local black 

bear population. Project developer Iberdrola will conserve

more than 100 acres of bear habitat elsewhere to compensate 

four times over the habitat that may be disrupted during the 

facility’s construction. 

After Maine’s Land Use Regulation Commission denied

issuing permits for two configurations of the proposed Black 

Nubble Wind Project (54 MW) in 2007 and 2008, the developer

again sought to alter the project in hopes of increasing local 

support and successfully navigating the permitting process. 

Most recently, Endless Energy proposed that the town of 

Carrabassett Valley annex Redington Township. Annexation 

would have smoothed the siting process and allowed the town 

and area ratepayers to benefit from the wind energy produced 

at a reduced cost. While the town Selectmen voted unanimously for annexation and the State and Local Government

committee voted in favor, the bill ultimately did not make it 

out of the Senate. As a result, this project may have reached its

conclusion.

The Northern Maine Aroostook County Wind Project has 

increased the total potential capacity under consideration in 

the ISO queue from 500 MW to between 800 to 1,200 MW.

Despite the increase in potential capacity, project developers 

Horizon Wind Energy and Linekin Bay Energy filed a letter

with the Maine PUC stating that the original projected start

date of 2010 is no longer applicable, and characteristics of 

the project remain unsettled until there is further review of a 

system impact study.

In Lowell, Vermont, Green Mountain Power (GMP) and the

Vermont Electric Co-op are working with local resources to 

develop the Kingdom Community Wind Project. In August 

2009, GMP filed for the 248J permit necessary to erect three

temporary meteorological towers to measure wind speed and 

direction. Various wind project developers collected resource 

data at this site, dating back to 2003. The proponents are 

preparing a series of reports on the potential environmental 

impact. The project will consist of 16 to 24 turbines and could

represent approximately 50 MW of new capacity. Commercial

operation is expected in late 2012. 

New market entrant Vermont Community Wind Farm 

LLC has performed a series of fatal flaws analyses, entered 

several landowner agreements, and is currently preparing a 

Section 248 permit application for the up to 80-MW Vermont 

Community Wind Farm in Rutland County, Vermont. The 

project is proposed for the Town of Ira, but several turbines 

are also proposed for Poultney, Middletown Springs,

Tinmouth, Clarendon, and West Rutland. According to the 

developer, the project plans to be operational in late 2011.

American Pro Wind LLC, a partnership of two Massachusettsbased real estate developers, recently proposed plans for the 

Douglas Woods Renewable Energy Park, a 12-turbine, 24-MW

wind project surrounded by the Douglas State Forest near the

intersection of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. 

The developers have obtained a variance to erect a meteorological tower for measuring wind speed and direction. The project 

has not yet filed an interconnection application but is expected 

to do so by the end of the year.

Finally, the three-turbine, 4.5-MW Beaver Ridge Wind Project

in Freedom, Maine began commercial operation on November 

1, 2008. Competitive Energy Services and Patriot Renewables

(a wind development group owned by Boston construction

contractor Jay Cashman) completed the project.

A 1.5-MW turbine at Beaver Ridge Wind Project in Freedom, Maine. 

Andrew Price, Beaver Ridge Wind, LLC/PIX16714
8 New England Wind Forum — January 2010

WIND AND HYDROPOWER TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM

Community-Scale and Customer-Sited 

Wind Projects Update

In addition to the 660-kW to 1.8-MW single-turbine installations becoming prevalent, the region has also experienced a 

recent explosion of smaller commercial-scale turbines filling 

the niche below the 1.5-MW machines that are used for most

of the nation’s wind development. New England has recently 

seen new turbines entering the marketplace in the 100-kW, 

300-kW, and 600-kW size range, where the 1-MW to 1.5-MW

turbines are too large for the load or site, or project economics 

or available capital dictate a smaller machine. This wave of 

installations, often in locations somewhat less windy than typically considered for commercial-scale development, is motivated by factors such as the customers wanting to take control 

of their energy costs, act in accordance with their principles, 

or take advantage of incentives, including new or expanded 

net metering policies (discussed further in the Policy Initiatives

section). In contrast to the land-based, commercial-scale wind 

farm development activity, which has predominantly occurred 

in Northern New England, the community- or customer-based 

development is concentrated in southern New England (see 

maps http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/ne_projects.asp). 

New Community-Scale and Customer-Sited Projects in or 

Nearing Operation

Country Garden of Hyannis, Massachusetts, began operation of its 100-kW Northwind turbine in November 2008,

making it the first community-scale wind turbine on Cape 

Cod. In August 2009, another Northwind 100-kW turbine 

was erected at the Falmouth (Massachusetts) Woods Hole 

Research Center. [See a video (http://www.blip.tv/file/2443087) 

of the turbine raising.] The City of Medford (Massachusetts) 

held a dedication ceremony on January 29, 2009, for its newly

constructed and operational Northwind 100-kW wind turbine 

located at the McGlynn School complex. You can watch

highlights of the dedication ceremony by following the link 

provided in the Cool Links section of this newsletter. 

On June 13, 2008, the Town of Portsmouth (Rhode Island) 

broke ground for the installation of a single 1.5-MW AAER

wind turbine. Major wind turbine component parts were delivered to the site in January, and the 1.5-MW project achieved

commercial operations in March 2009. The turbine is located 

at the high school and may be the first New England project 

to be funded by Clean Renewable Energy Bonds. Pictures are

available at the project’s Web site (http://www.portsmouthrienergy.com/). 

Mark Richey Woodworking in Newburyport, Massachusetts, 

installed a 600-kW wind turbine that began commercial 

operation in February 2009. The University of Maine recently 

installed a single 600-kW turbine at its Presque Isle campus,

making it the first university in Maine to locate a wind turbine 

on campus. The turbine, installed by Lumus Construction, 

achieved commercial operation on June 17, 2009. Holy Name 

Catholic High School now has a fully operational 600-kW 

turbine on its Worcester, Massachusetts campus. Williams’ 

Stone Company in East Otis also recently dedicated its 600-kW

AAER Inc./PIX16716

The top section of the tower is unloaded for the new AAER turbine recently installed at a 

Portsmouth, Rhode Island high school.

Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust/PIX16717

A 600-kW wind turbine was installed at Holy Name Central Catholic Junior/Senior High 

School in Worcester, Massachusetts in September 2008. 

A 100-kW wind turbine at the McGlynn school complex in Medford, Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust/PIX16715
New England Wind Forum — January 2010 9

WIND AND HYDROPOWER TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM

turbine. In April 2009, Nature’s Classroom installed a 100-kW 

turbine on its 300-acre Charlton, Massachusetts educational 

facility. In Chelsea, Massachusetts, a 600-kW turbine was 

installed at Forbes Park, a residential and commercial mixeduse community. After some initial difficulty, the turbine is now 

successfully interconnected and generating power for multiple 

on-site loads.

The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) 

recently installed two turbines, totaling 1.2 MW, at its Deer 

Island Waste Water Treatment Facility in Boston. The project’s proximity to Boston’s Logan International Airport has

prompted these two 600-kW generators to be mounted on 

uncharacteristically short 32-meter towers (see photo on cover 

page).

In August 2008, the Princeton Municipal Light Department 

(PMLD) in Massachusetts broke ground for two 1.5-MW

Fuhrlander wind turbines to replace the eight 40-kW machines

operating on the southwest side of Mount Wachusett since 

1984. Site preparations were completed during fall 2008. The

turbines are expected to arrive in fall 2009, with installation 

completed by the end of the year. The Massachusetts Military 

Reservation (MMR, or Otis Air Force Base) will receive its 

1.5-MW Fuhrlander turbine via the same shipment that is

carrying PMLD’s equipment. As a result, MMR also expects

to have its new turbine operational by the end of 2009 (see 

the Cool Links section for a link to photos of turbine components in transport). The Town of Falmouth (Massachusetts) 

successfully executed a competitive bidding process for the 

installation of a 1.65-MW Vestas wind turbine at the town’s

wastewater treatment facility. The turbine is one of the two 

Vestas machines originally purchased by the Massachusetts 

Technology Collaborative (MTC) for the Town of Orleans in

2006 and is expected to be installed in Falmouth by the end 

of 2009. Coincidentally, the second MTC-purchased Vestas 

turbine is also expected to be installed in Falmouth, only a 

couple of miles away at Webb Research. Webb is selecting an 

installation contractor through a competitive bidding process. 

Project updates are available from Notus Clean Energy (http://

www.notuscleanenergy.com/home.html) (the project company 

established by Webb Research for development and operating 

purposes).

The Town of Hanover (Massachusetts) has also committed 

to the installation of an Aeronautica Norwin 225 (225-kW)

turbine at the wastewater treatment facility. The project 

is expected to be completed in 2010. Construction of the 

foundation for a 100-kW turbine at Saint Mary’s Abbey in 

Wrentham, Massachusetts was underway as of mid-August 

2009.

Three GE 1.5-MW wind turbines under construction on

Vinalhaven, Maine comprise the Fox Islands Wind Project. 

Power generated will serve island loads and be sent to the

mainland grid. Turbine components arrived in late August, 

and the turbines were erected in September. The project came

online in November. For a video clip of the turbine blades 

arriving, see the Cool Links section of this newsletter for a link 

to the project’s Web site. 

In Whitefield, New Hampshire, a Northwind 100-kW turbine

was erected in September 2009 at the Mountain View Grand 

Hotel. The hotel expects the turbine to provide approximately 

one-half of its electricity needs.

Expanding on its initial plans to install a weather station 

and small wind turbine demonstration project at a local 

school, the Templeton (Massachusetts) Municipal Light & 

Water Co. has now completed the procurement of a 1.5-MW

turbine (through a joint RFP with the Berkshire Wind Energy

Cooperative) and received a $2.16 million CREBs allocation. The municipal utility plans to install (on district school 

property) and own a 1.5-MW turbine by the end of 2009. The

turbine will provide electricity to the municipal utility system, 

as opposed to connecting behind the school’s meter.

Bartlet’s Farm, Nantucket (Massachusetts), which hosted 

experimental wind turbines in the 1970s, installed a 250-kW

turbine in March 2009, which is meeting approximately 80% of

the onsite load. A video is available here (http://www.plumtv.

com/videos/bartletts-farm-windmill/index.html). 

At the end of July 2009, New England Technical Institute in 

Warwick, Rhode Island installed a 100-kW wind turbine that 

provides power to its automotive technology building and 

serves as a teaching tool.

Cape Cod Community College in Barnstable (Massachusetts)

has broken ground on the installation of a 600-kW turbine. 

However, the project may require one final permission from the

Old Kings Highway District Commission prior to completion.

Jason Gifford, Sustainable Energy Advantage, LLC/PIX16718

Shown here prominently displayed outside the exhibit hall at Windpower 2008 in 

Houston, this blade is now destined for installation on the 1.65-MW Vestas turbine to be 

installed at the Town of Falmouth’s wastewater treatment facility.
10 New England Wind Forum — January 2010

WIND AND HYDROPOWER TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM

Community-Scale and Customer-Sited Wind Projects in 

Active Development

Developers for the Georgia Mountain Wind Project, a threeto five-turbine, 7.5- to 12-MW project proposed for Milton,

Vermont, completed a set of environmental studies and filed 

a Section 248 permit application with the Vermont Public

Service Board. Project proponents are seeking permit awards

in 2010 with sufficient time to commence construction by the 

year-end 2010 deadline and qualify for the 30% Federal cash

grant. 

In January 2009, the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust

announced its most recent grant recipients under the sixth 

(and final) round of its Large On-Site Renewables Initiative

(LORI). LORI awards grant funding for either design and

construction or feasibility studies. Round 6 design and 

construction grant winners included four wind projects: 

shellfish cultivator and processor Aquacultural Research 

Corporation of Dennis (600 kW), Ski Resort of Charlemont 

(900 kW), MBTA’s Kingston Station facility (100 kW), and 

Upper Cape Regional Technical High School in Bourne

(2 MW). Round 6 feasibility study grant winners included 

11 wind projects: City of Boston: Moon Island (100 kW to 

2 MW), the Town of Chatham (50 kW to 225 kW), the Town of 

Hamilton (600 kW to 1.5 MW), the Town of Mashpee (100 kW 

to 2 MW), Masonic Health System in Charlton (1.5 MW),

Northern Pines Farm in Tisbury (900 kW), Pocasset Golf 

Club (100 kW to 250 kW), Pumpkin Pond Farm in Nantucket 

(35 kW to 250 kW), Saint Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer (600 kW

to 2 MW), Tufts University Veterinary School in Grafton and 

Westborough (600 kW to 2 MW), and the Town of Wareham

(1.5 MW). In July 2009, the Massachusetts Office of Energy

and Environmental Affairs announced $2.2 million allocated 

in grants awarded by the Massachusetts Renewable Energy 

Trust supporting nine new wind energy projects through the 

new Commonwealth Wind Community-Scale Wind initiative. Project funding included 4 MW in capacity of design

and construction grants for three new wind projects and six 

feasibility studies for wind energy that would total more than 

3 MW in capacity. The nine grants are awarded to public 

projects, educational institutions, a farm, and a shopping 

center. The three projects receiving design and construction 

grants are the Town of Hanover, for its wastewater treatment plant; the Lynn Water and Sewer Commission; and the 

Massachusetts Department of Correction, for North Central 

Correction Institution-Gardner. Awards for the six feasibility 

studies go to Allen Farm, Martha’s Vineyard; Cape Cod 

Academy, Osterville; Centerville-Osterville-Marston Mills 

Fire District; Colony Place, Plymouth; Falmouth Academy, 

Falmouth; and Up-Island Regional School District, Chilmark, 

Aquinnah, and West Tisbury. Funds for the Trust come from 

renewable energy charges on electric bills, which generate 

roughly $25 million a year to support renewable energy

installations and companies. In addition, Mount Wachusett 

Community College is seeking proposals (in a joint solicitation 

with the North Central Correction Institution project noted 

above) to install two commercial-scale turbines at its Gardner 

(Massachusetts) campus.

Two additional community-driven efforts are underway 

in Rhode Island. First, several developers are teaming on 

the eCo Industrial Park of Rhode Island, a carbon-neutral 

campus proposed for Tiverton. Proposals for the park’s 650

acres include 24 to 30 MW of wind, 5 to 10 MW of solar, an

electric car manufacturing facility, and a geothermal heating 

and cooling network. Second, in August 2009 the Rhode

Island towns of Bristol, Warren, Barrington, East Providence,

Portsmouth, Little Compton, Tiverton, Middletown, and

Newport formed the East Bay Energy Consortium and issued 

a Request for Proposals from consulting firms qualified “to

prepare an Evaluation of the Feasibility of Erecting a regional 

wind energy system within the East Bay of RI.” A pre-feasibility study, assessing the threshold potential of multiple sites, 

is expected to be completed by the end of 2009, and a detailed 

feasibility study is anticipated by summer 2010.

State and Regional Wind Policy Updates

Policy initiatives combine with commercial interests of wind

project developers or hosts to shape the development landscape, including both initiatives to encourage wind development in some locations or configurations as well as to 

discourage or preclude wind power development where deemed 

inappropriate. As can be seen from the updates below, the 

policy arena has been, and continues to be, active throughout 

the region.

Rhode Island and Massachusetts Explore Wind Development 

on State Lands

In the past year, Rhode Island and Massachusetts have 

commenced exploration of proactive wind power development on state and public lands. Among several state 

and municipal sites, the Rhode Island Department of 

Environmental Management (DEM), in conjunction with the 

Town of Narragansett, is exploring wind development at the 

Scarborough Waste Water Treatment Facility and installing a

MET tower at Camp Cronin. The DEM and Town issued an 

RFP seeking proposals from onshore wind turbine developers

that will maximize revenue from five properties. Additionally,

the DEM has created several resources to further support wind 

development on public lands, including a Terrestrial Wind 

Turbine Siting Report (http://www.dem.ri.gov/cleannrg/pdf/

terrwind.pdf), Patterns and Timing of Bird Migration as it

Relates to the Placement of Wind Turbines (http://www.dem.

ri.gov/cleannrg/pdf/fwavabat.pdf), and a Web page on Wind in 

the Ocean State (http://www.dem.ri.gov/cleannrg/wind.htm) to 

catalogue progress in these related activities. 

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and

Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) and local legislators continue

exploring the possibility of developing commercial-scale wind 

installations in some regions of the state, particularly coastal 

areas and ridge tops in western Massachusetts. A study of the 
New England Wind Forum — January 2010 11

WIND AND HYDROPOWER TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Potential at StateOwned Facilities (http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eoeeamodu

lechunk&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoeea&b=terminalcontent&

f=eea_energy_energy_potential&csid=Eoeea) (developed by 

Navigant Consulting under contract to the EOEEA and the

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center) concluded that there are 

sufficient wind resources to develop approximately 947 MW

of wind power on state lands. State officials hosted two public

listening sessions on this topic over the summer. Resulting 

public comments that were filed by July 17 have been posted

(http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eoeeaterminal&L=4&L0=Ho

me&L1=Energy%2c+Utilities+%26+Clean+Technologies&L2

=Renewable+Energy&L3=Wind&sid=Eoeea&b=terminalcon

tent&f=doer_renewables_wind_wind-potential&csid=Eoeea), 

along with the Department of Energy Resources (http://www.

mass.gov/?pageID=eoeeamodulechunk&L=I&LO=Home

&sid=Eoeea&b=terminalcontent&rf=eea_energy_energy_

potential&csid=Eoeea) and the UMASS Wind Energy Center

(http://www.mass.gov/Eoeea/docs/doer/renewables/wind/Wind 

on State Lands_Listening Session_UMass WEC Presentation.

pdf) presentations from the sessions. 

Massachusetts Adopts Green Communities Act; Initiates 

Long-Term Contracting Docket

On July 2, 2008, the Massachusetts legislature passed the

Green Communities Act (http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/

seslaw08/sl080169.htm), which among other significant 

renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives (some 

discussed below), institutes a long-term contract pilot 

program for renewable energy from facilities located within 

the Commonwealth and state or adjacent federal waters. The 

Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is implementing the program through Docket 08-88 (http://db.state.

ma.us/dpu/qorders/frmDocketList.asp). On June 12, 2009, the

DPU issued an Order (hppt://www.mass.gov/Eoeea/docs/dpu/

gas/08-88/61209dpuord.pdf) adopting final regulations (hppt://

www.mass.gov/Eoeea/docs/dpu/gas/08-88/61209dpucmr17.

pdf) for renewable energy long-term contracts with 

Massachusetts’utilities. 

Under the order, the state’s distribution utilities, separate

from their Renewable Portfolio Standard obligations, would

seek long-term contracts of 10 to 15 years with new renewable energy generators for 3% of the load of all distribution

customers in their service territories. The contracts would 

include renewable energy credits (RECs), energy, or a combination of RECs and energy. Distribution companies must 

coordinate with Department of Energy Resources (DOER) in

developing their timetables and methods for solicitations, and 

each must conduct at least two separate solicitations for longterm contract proposals from renewable energy developers 

between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2014. Contracts are subject

to DPU approval, and the distribution company would receive

an incentive equal to 4% of the annual payments under a

contract. The distribution utilities filed a Request for Proposals

with the DPU in September, seeking expedited approval to

commence with the first solicitation.

Rhode Island Adopts Standards for Long-Term Contracts 

with Renewable Energy Generators 

Prior to closing the 2009 session, the Legislature passed Public

Law 09-051 (http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/PublicLaws/law09/

law09051.htm), which was signed by the Governor on June 26,

2009, to encourage and facilitate the creation of commercially 

reasonable long-term contracts between electric distribution 

companies and developers or sponsors of newly developed 

renewable energy resources. The law requires long-term 

contracting with a minimum of 90 average MW (aMW) of 

new renewables (e.g., MW that, when adjusted by capacity 

factor, would produce the same energy as 90 MW operating 

at 100% c.f.), of which 3 aMW must be solar located within

Rhode Island. Projects cannot be operating or receiving

construction financing (except that a facility in Rhode Island 

may obtain financing any time after 1/1/2009), and whether 

or not in Rhode Island, must provide other direct economic 

benefits to Rhode Island, such as job creation, increased 

property tax revenue, or similar revenue, deemed substantial by 

the PUC. Contracts are for a minimum period of 10 years and

may exceed 15 years with PUC approval. Electric Distribution

Companies are required by July 1, 2010 to annually solicit

economically reasonable proposals from renewable energy 

developers for the purchase of energy, capacity, and attributes, 

subject to Commission approval. As incentive, the law provides 

for a financial remuneration to National Grid of 2.75% of

the actual annual payments under contracts entered once the 

projects are commercially operating.

In addition, the law requires National Grid to solicit proposals 

by August 15, 2009, for one new renewable energy project up

to 10 MW that includes a proposal to enhance electric reliability and environmental quality for Block Island, including

a transmission link to the mainland grid. This section appears 

intended to provide a long-term revenue stream to a smallscale, offshore wind project in state waters near Block Island.

Another portion of the law requires National Grid to provide 

a long-term contract with a utility-scale offshore wind developer selected by the state (this selection process already 

occurred, designating Deepwater Wind as the state’s preferred 

developer) for a project of between 100 MW and 150 MW,

separate from the 90-MW requirement discussed above.

The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has opened Docket

No. 4069 to develop regulations governing Long-Term

Contracting Standards for renewable energy as mandated in

P.L. 09-051. The Commission must have the general Rules

established by April 1, 2010 and by April 30, 2010 for utilityscale projects. For more information, see the text of Law 

Promulgating Rulemaking (PDF 34 KB http://www.rilin.state.

ri.us/BillText09/SenateText09/S0111Aaa.pdf) and the Rhode 

Island PUC docket (http://www.ripuc.org/eventsactions/

docket.html) page (search for number 4069). More information

is available on the Rhode Island policy and guidelines page 

(http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/ne_astate_template.

asp?stateab=ri#policy) of the NEWF Web site.
12 New England Wind Forum — January 2010

WIND AND HYDROPOWER TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM

Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Maine Expand and 

Enhance Net Metering Opportunities for Wind

In 2009, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities

implemented new net metering rules (http://www.mass.gov/?

pageID=eoeeapressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoeea&

b=pressrelease&f=090311_pr_net_metering&csid=Eoeea), 

as prescribed in Section 78 of the 2008 Green Communities

Act (http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/seslaw08/sl080169.htm). 

Previously, net metering had been limited to facilities up to 60

kW. The Green Communities Act and new regulations create 

three classes of net metering facilities and raises the facility 

cap: 

•	 Class I: for all technologies, any facility up to 60 kW

•	 Class II: agricultural, wind, and solar facilities* > 60 kW

and ≤ 1 MW 

•	 Class III: agricultural, wind, and solar facilities* > 1 MW

and ≤ 2 MW

* Except that for municipal and governmental entities each 

unit (as opposed to each facility) within these capacity bounds 

qualifies.

The rate components that may be offset differ under these 

different net metering classes.

The Green Communities Act also introduces virtual net 

metering, which allows the aggregation and off-setting of 

multiple loads not co-located with the renewable energy 

generator for projects meeting certain ownership criteria. 

This provision is especially relevant to wind projects since the 

best wind resources are often located at a distance from load. 

Each investor-owned utility is required to offer net metering. 

Municipal utilities are not required to offer net metering but 

may choose to do so voluntarily. The obligation to offer net 

metering is capped at 1% of each utility’s historic peak load.

Additional net metering information can be found on the 

MA incentives page (http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/

ne_astate_template.asp?stateab=ma) of the NEWF Web site.

In July 2009, the General Assembly amended Rhode Island’s

net metering statute to increase the individual and aggregate 

net metering limits for renewable energy systems installed 

by customers of National Grid. The new net metering 

facility limits are as follows: 3.5 MW for municipalities and

Narragansett Bay Commission, 2.25 MW for certain systems

serving municipalities (developed but not owned by cities 

and towns, sited on land owned by the city or town, and 

providing power solely to the city or town), and 1.65 MW for

all other systems. The aggregate limit on net metering has been 

increased from 1% to 2% of peak load, with a minimum of

1 MW reserved for projects with a capacity less than 25 kW.

In addition, the new statute allows a net metering customer 

to elect to receive a monthly check or a monthly bill credit 

for the value of any net excess generation. The statute allows 

non-profit affordable housing, municipalities, state agencies, 

and the Narragansett Bay Commission to elect a monthly

check or to apply net metering credits to up to 10 other 

accounts owned by that entity. If net energy generation is 

rolled over month-to-month, any credit remaining at the end 

of 12 months shall be used to offset recoverable utility costs. 

The PUC’s implementing regulations and National Grid’s net

metering tariff were being finalized as this newsletter went to

press. They will be posted on the PUC’s Docket No. 4079 Web

page (http://www.ripuc.org/eventsactions/docket/4079page.

html). Additional information may be found on the RI incentives page (http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/ne_astate_

template.asp?stateab=ri#incentives) of the NEWF Web site. 

In addition, Maine’s investor-owned utilities are now required 

to offer net energy billing (net metering) to eligible facilities 

with capacity limits up to 660 kW, and consumer-owned utilities are required to offer net metering to consumer generators 

up to 100 kW (but are authorized to offer net metering to

eligible facilities with limits up to 500 kW). In April 2009, LD

336 (PDF 9 KB http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/

bills_124th/chappdfs/RESOLVE20.pdf) was signed into law, 

authorizing the final adoption of the rule, allowing new shared

ownership net metering opportunities, increasing the general 

capacity limit to 660 kW, and increasing the review trigger on 

cumulative capacity from 0.5% of peak load to 1% of peak

load. More information can be found on the Maine incentives page (http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/ne_astate_

template.asp?stateab=me#incentives) of the NEWF Web site.

Vermont Becomes First in the Nation to Adopt a Cost-Based 

Feed-In Tariff

In May 2009, Vermont became the first state in the nation to 

enact a law creating a full slate of advanced cost-based renewable energy feed-in tariffs. The Vermont Energy Act of 2009 

(http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2010/bills/House/H-446.pdf) 

(H. 446) modifies the Sustainable Priced Energy Enterprise

Development (SPEED) Program to implement a cost-based

feed-in tariff, including a reasonable profit set not lower than 

the highest equity rate of return of Vermont’s investor-owned 

utilities (12.13%). The renewable energy tariffs will last for

20 years and will be differentiated by technology and project 

size. The actual tariff rates remain under development as this

newsletter goes to press. Interim rates will be in effect through 

January 15, 2010, with rates thereafter subject to biennial

review. Through these tariffs, the Vermont utilities purchase 

all energy, capacity, and Renewable Energy Credit value from 

participating projects (except that farm methane projects may 

elect to retain the Renewable Energy Credits). Eligible projects 

are capped at 2.2 MW, and the entire program is capped at 

50 MW. Program costs are borne by all ratepayers. For current

information on rates and terms, see Dockets 7523 and 7533

(http://www.state.vt.us/psb/document/7523Feed-InTariff/7523_

main.htm), Implementation of Standard Offer Prices for

SPEED.
New England Wind Forum — January 2010 13

WIND AND HYDROPOWER TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM

Maine Establishes Community-Based Renewable Energy 

Pilot Program for Generators < 10 MW

On June 9, 2009, Governor Baldacci signed LD 1075, An

Act to Establish the Community-based Renewable Energy 

Pilot Program (http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/

bills_124th/chappdfs/PUBLIC329.pdf). This new law is 

intended to encourage locally owned renewable energy 

generation. Specifically, the Act offers two mutually exclusive benefits: (1) A long-term (20-year) contract for energy, 

capacity, or renewable energy credits from the interconnecting utility, or (2) a 150% credit multiplier on RECs used

for compliance with the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard

(RPS).

The PUC may require the Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs)

to enter into contracts for energy, capacity or RECs for up to 

20 years; participation by consumer-owned utilities is optional. 

The utilities may resell the energy, capacity, or RECs into 

the wholesale market or otherwise incorporate them into the 

standard offer supply. All program costs are recoverable.

For small eligible generators (<1 MW), much like a feed-in 

tariff, the cost-based, technology-differentiated prices paid 

under the contract will be fixed by the PUC (they are not

specified in the legislation). For generators 1 MW or larger, 

the PUC must conduct competitive solicitations for long-term

contracts. Bids are required to have full project cost disclosure.

The commission will select projects that are “competitive and 

the lowest priced when compared to other available bids of the 

same or similar contract duration or terms.” For both small 

and large generators under the program, however, the average 

price in any contract year may not exceed 10 cents/kWh, 

potentially limiting the financial viability of many smaller 

wind projects. 

As a pilot program, there are a number of limitations: an 

individual project may not exceed 10 MW; the total installed 

capacity may not exceed 50 MW, and may not exceed 25 MW

within the service territory of a single investor-owned utility 

(unless approved by the PUC); of this 50 MW, 10 MW must be

reserved for projects smaller than 100 kW or that are located 

in the service territory of a consumer-owned utility; no more 

than 10 MW may elect the credit multiplier option; and the 

program sunsets on December 31, 2015 if the 50-MW cap has

not yet been reached. To be eligible for the program, community-based projects must: (a) provide documented support 

from the applicable municipality or federally recognized Indian

tribe (except for projects in unorganized areas or those < 100

kW); (b) be grid-connected; and (c) have an in-service date 

after September 1, 2009.

Massachusetts Updates Model Wind Turbine Zoning Bylaw

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and

Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) and DOER have completed

an update to the model wind-zoning bylaw, which was first

released in 2007. The wind-zoning bylaw, which applies to

utility-scale, on-site wind facilities and small wind energy 

systems, includes building integrated wind systems and 

physical modifications to existing wind facilities that materially 

alter the type, configuration, or size of such facilities or other

equipment. The bylaw was prepared to assist cities and towns 

in establishing reasonable standards for wind power development. The bylaw was developed as a model and not intended 

for adoption without specific review by municipal counsel. See

the Massachusetts page (http://www.windpoweringamerica.

gov/ne_astate_template.asp?stateab=ma#siting) of the NEWF 

Web site for more information on the revised model wind 

bylaw.

Wind Energy Siting Bill Filed in Massachusetts Senate 

On January 13, 2009, Massachusetts Senator Michael

Morrissey filed a discussion draft Wind Energy Siting Bill.

This bill was a response to a state-commissioned wind energy 

siting study under the Green Communities Act, which determined that (1) wind energy developers want clear siting standards; (2) Massachusetts currently has a system that requires 

multiple permits from multiple entities with little opportunity 

to appeal; and (3) Massachusetts only has “one-stop” permitting for facilities larger than 100 MW.

The bill as proposed would authorize the energy facilities siting

board (EFSB) to promulgate permissive siting standards for

wind farms of 2 MW or larger. In an effort to streamline the 

permitting process, this provision gives “as of right” permitting at the state level, and “as of right” override of any local 

denial. The proposed process is non-adjudicatory and includes 

public hearings and a written comment period. For facilities that comply with the siting standards, the board would 

issue a decision within 4 months of the application, and the

approval must be granted if the board agrees that the facility 

complies with the standards. For facilities that do not comply, 

the approval would be discretionary. At the local level, the 

bill would establish a streamlined permitting process for wind 

energy facilities. Municipalities in high wind areas designated by DOER must create a wind energy permitting board

comprised of representatives of the conservation commission, planning board, and zoning board. This board would

receive comments from the public and other local boards and 

issue one composite permit that includes local law and regulation. The board would have the authority to waive any local 

requirements needed to permit the facility, including height 

limits in local zoning bylaws. For applications that meet the

siting standards, the local board must act within 120 days or 

the application is automatically approved. For noncompliant 

applications, the board must act in 180 days. Municipalities

would be authorized to impose an impact fee, to be capped

by DOER. The bill would also allow any aggrieved persons to

appeal a board’s decision, but the appeal is to the EFSB and

this is the sole method of review. However, existing law would

also allow an appeal of a siting board decision to the Supreme

Judicial Court. This bill has met with resistance from municipalities, and debate continues as this issue goes to press. See

the Massachusetts page (http://www.windpoweringamerica.
14 New England Wind Forum — January 2010

WIND AND HYDROPOWER TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM

gov/ne_astate_template.asp?stateab=ma#siting) of the NEWF 

Web site for more information.

Massachusetts Increases State Renewable Portfolio Standard 

Targets

In 2008, under Section 32 of the Green Communities Act

(http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/seslaw08/sl080169.htm), the 

legislature made several important revisions to the Renewable 

Portfolio Standard. The revised Renewable Portfolio Standard

regulations went into effect on June 12, 2009. Key revisions

to the Renewable Portfolio Standard driving the demand for

wind power include codifying annual Class I (new) Renewable 

Portfolio Standard target increases of 1% per year beginning in 2010, removing Massachusetts Department of Energy 

Resources’ discretion over such increases. More information 

is available on the Massachusetts policy and guidelines page 

(http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/ne_astate_template.

asp?stateab=ma#policy) of the NEWF Web site.

Maine Engages in Dialogue on Transmission System 

Enhancements

Much of the wind power potential in Maine is located either 

far from transmission facilities or in locations isolated from or 

constrained in access to load centers. Therefore, the potential 

for expanding the transmission system is critical to the future 

of wind in Maine. 

At the end of the 2009 session, the legislature passed LD 

1485 (http://www/mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_124th/

chappdfs/PUBLIC372.pdf), An Act Regarding Maine’s Energy 

Future, which placed a moratorium on any significant new 

transmission line development. Specifically, the new law places

a moratorium on “significant occupancy agreements” for new 

transmission facilities, defined as lines of greater than 75 miles

in length, including high-voltage DC transmission lines, or any 

agreement substantially different from previous occupancy 

agreements entered into by a state authority. The moratorium 

would remain in place until repealed by enactment of a new 

law governing the use of these corridors, or until 90 days after 

the end of the 2010 legislative session, whichever occurs first. 

Nevertheless, the law allows applications for such transmission 

facilities to be processed by a state authority up to, but not 

including, a final decision on the application. To address the 

issues driving the moratorium, the legislature also establishes 

a 13-member Commission to Study Energy Infrastructure.

Its charge is to examine the feasibility and effects of the state 

leasing state-owned lands or assets, including submerged 

lands, for transmission lines, pipelines, and related facilities 

for carrying energy resources. The commission will recommend how to allocate the best use of these assets and how to 

price them, as well as “the potential effect of such agreements 

on renewable energy development in the State.” The commission must submit its findings and recommendations, including 

suggested legislation, to the legislature no later than December 

2, 2009. 

New Hampshire’s North Country Transmission Commission 

Extended, Duties Expanded

The New Hampshire Legislature, ISO-New England, and

interested stakeholders have established the “Commission to 

Develop a Plan for the Expansion of Transmission Capacity

in the North Country.” The commission is developing a 

plan for possible paths to efficiently and effectively design 

and construct the transmission capacity necessary to facilitate renewable energy development. The ISO-New England

interconnection queue currently includes requests for interconnection from approximately 400 MW of renewable generating

capacity proposed for northern New Hampshire. To interconnect substantial additional renewable generation resources 

into this 115-kV transmission system or to interconnect these

resources to remote higher-capacity transmission substations 

will require upgrades to existing PSNH and National Grid

facilities or the construction of new transmission lines. The 

extent of the system reinforcements depends on the amount 

and location of the proposed generation. The New Hampshire

Public Utilities Commission Background Report on New

Hampshire Transmission Infrastructure, completed for the

New Hampshire General Court in 2007, describes four options

for upgrading facilities that would support 400 to 500 MW

of new generation. The options vary in cost between $160 

million and $210 million and would have different implications 

for where new resources could interconnect. The commission releases a periodic progress report to address current 

developments. 

In the summer of 2009, the legislature passed SB 85, tasking

the Commission to “seek and obtain federal funds to upgrade 

the 115-kilovolt transmission loop in Coos County and to

establish an appropriate method for sharing costs and benefits 

of such an upgrade between ratepayers and the owners of 

generation facilities in order to develop renewable resources in 

northern New Hampshire.” If federal funds are available, the

commission is authorized to retain a consultant and develop

a plan to upgrade the Coos loop. In creating such a plan, the 

commission’s consultant will work with renewable energy 

developers that have active interconnection requests, electric 

utilities, the consumer advocate, and the PUC. Community

benefits” are to be explicitly addressed as part of the plan. 

An Interim Plan is due December 1, 2009; a Final Plan is due

December 1, 2010.

For more information, see the New Hampshire Transmission,

Interconnection, and System Integration page of the NEWF

Web Site (http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/ne_astate_

template.asp?stateab=nh#transmission).
New England Wind Forum — January 2010 15

WIND AND HYDROPOWER TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM

Federal Policy Initiatives

Federal Stimulus Package Expected to Spur Renewable 

Energy Financings

The 2009 American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) 

not only extended the Federal production tax credit (PTC)

through December 31, 2012 for wind projects but also created 

two time-limited options for capturing the PTC’s intended

benefits through alternative mechanisms. First, the ARRA 

offers wind project owners the option to elect the investment tax credit (ITC) in lieu of the PTC. The ITC is equal to

30% of the project’s depreciable capital expenses (typically

up to 95% of a wind project’s total installed cost), can be

fully applied against the project owner’s federal income tax 

liability in the first quarter of project operation, and is not 

production-dependent. Second, the ARRA also offers the

option to elect a Section 1603 cash grant in lieu of the ITC.

Like the ITC, the cash grant is equal to 30% of eligible capital

costs and is disbursed to the project 60 days after the Treasury 

Department deems the grant application complete or 60 days 

after commercial operation, whichever is later. The option to 

elect the ITC is currently available through the PTC expiration

date (12/31/2012); whereas the Section 1603 cash grant option

is currently available only to those projects that enter construction by December 31, 2010 and are operational by December 

31, 2012. Both ITC and the cash grant are subject to recapture

(i.e., a portion of the credit is lost) if the owner receiving these 

benefits sells its share of the project within the first 5 years to

an entity that is not eligible for the grant.

The ARRA also creates a new $6 billion loan guarantee 

program ($4 billion for renewable energy and $2 billion for

transmission). Loan guarantees are available to projects that 

commence construction by September 30, 2011. Under existing

regulations, the U.S. Department of Energy may guarantee

up to 100% of a loan, provided that the loan is issued by the

Treasury Department’s Federal Financing Bank. Loans from

private lenders can also be guaranteed, provided that the guarantee is for less than 100% of the loan amount. In the competitive evaluation process, greater weight will likely be given to 

applications that rely on a smaller guarantee percentage. 

In 2008, the Energy Improvement and Extension Act allocated $800 million to the new Clean Renewable Energy Bonds

(CREBs) program. The ARRA further expanded the CREBs

program with an additional $1.6 billion allocation — bringing 

the total available funding to $2.4 billion for new awards.

Funding will be awarded evenly to public power, government 

bodies, and cooperatives (one-third each). Under the new

CREBs program, the bond maturity period is expected to be

between 12 and 13 years (as opposed to the 15- to 16-year

period under the 2006 program). In another significant departure from the old CREBs program rules, the bond beneficiary

can elect to repay in one lump sum at the bond’s maturity 

date, as opposed to equal annual principal payments. If this 

repayment option is elected, the project will likely be required 

to feed a reserve account to ensure repayment. Like the old 

program, qualifying CREBs applications are awarded funds

from smallest to largest dollar request until the IRS’s funding

allocation is exhausted. Due to the large number of requests 

in earlier rounds, applicants participating in the current round 

are encouraged to use CREBs as a financing supplement, as

opposed to 100% — or even a majority — of project debt.

Perspectives

An interview with Angus King, Former Governor of Maine 

and Co-Founder of Independence Wind

Date: 12/13/2009

Angus King, former governor of Maine (1995-2003, 

Independent), has taken the unusual step of becoming a wind 

power developer after completing his terms in office. Drawing 

on his diverse past (lawyer, U.S. Senate staffer, hydroelectric 

and biomass power plant developer, energy efficiency entrepreneur, PBS radio and TV commentator, and teacher), Governor 

King co-founded a wind development company in early 2007. 

Independence Wind was formed with Robert Gardiner, a 

former director of Maine’s Bureau of Public Lands and former 

Maine Advocacy Center Director for the Conservation Law 

Foundation. 

Independence Wind is actively working on developing a 

commercial wind farm in Western Maine.

Q. As Maine’s governor, what was your perspective on the 

role of wind power in Maine?

A. When I was governor, there was virtually no commercialscale wind development in Maine, only residential-scale. As 

governor, I had an interest in Maine’s energy situation and our 

need for more energy options. My interest in wind as a serious 

energy resource started in the 1970s when I first read of it in

the Whole Earth Catalog. On a professional level, my interest

in wind began only last year.

As governor, I supported the development of natural gas 

pipelines through Maine, which provided an additional energy 

resource. I came out of the alternative energy field, and I was 

concerned about the long-term cost of energy and long-term 

price stability and felt that increasing our supply options made 

a lot of sense. Historically, Maine got energy from hydro,

nuclear, and some fossil fuel resources. The nuclear plant is 

now closed, which makes Maine unhealthily dependent on 

natural gas for about 60% of our electricity... we’re vulnerable

on supply and price. Aside from hydro, wind is the only renewable resource for which you can offer a fixed price. 

Q. You have a background in both renewable energy and 

energy efficiency. As part of a broad energy policy, what 

do you see as the relative roles of these alternatives?

A. The older I get, the more I realize that there is no single

solution—most problems need to be solved through a combination of solutions. Clearly, conservation and efficiency have 
16 New England Wind Forum — January 2010

WIND AND HYDROPOWER TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM

important roles. In the early 1990s, I spent 5 years in the energy

efficiency business and saw that there is much we can do to use 

less energy. I also realized that there is a finite limit in terms

of what is feasible, what makes sense. For example, once you 

retrofit lighting, you can’t easily go back and do it over and 

again. So, while there is clearly a continuing role for energy

efficiency, it is only part of the answer. And even with it, we 

will probably still see a growing demand. Therefore, we must 

talk about energy supply. 

In terms of economics, energy security, and the environment, 

we need to talk about non-fossil-fuel-based supply: wind, 

hydro, or nuclear. At this point, there are no plans for new 

nuclear power plants in Maine, leaving wind and hydro on the 

table. Having been in the hydro business, I know that there is

very limited untapped hydro potential in Maine. That leaves 

wind. Wind can never become 100% of our energy supply

unless better energy storage technology is developed, but it can 

certainly be 10% to 20% of the mix if we have baseload plants

to fill in the gaps. It is significant that the high wind periods 

in Maine are in the wintertime, coinciding with high demand 

for fossil fuels and electricity. Until a few years ago, Maine’s

utilities were winter-peaking, and even now, there is still heavy 

demand in the winter, so wind is a nice fit for Maine. I don’t 

see wind energy as a panacea, but I do see it as a significant 

part of the solution with tremendous environmental benefits. 

Q. Looking ahead 10 to 15 years, how much wind power do 

you expect to see in Maine?

A. Maine has a total average demand of about 2,200 megawatts (MW). For wind to contribute a 10% share in the near

term — at a 35% capacity factor, that’s 300 to 600 MW of

capacity — is not unreasonable. Another big issue is the 

technology of offshore wind. The geography of Maine’s coast 

makes offshore wind a challenge, but if and when technology 

is developed for deeper-water offshore wind, there is huge 

potential. Offshore wind in Maine could generate thousands of

megawatts. 

Q. Do you see an opportunity for an increased number of 

jobs in Maine connected with wind?

A. There are three levels of jobs connected to the wind 

industry. The number of construction jobs associated with 

wind development is not inconsiderable. Between riggers,

bulldozer operators, etc., I have seen estimates of six jobs per

tower. There will also be operations and maintenance jobs. 

These will be fewer, probably one job per 20 MW. Most important, increasing wind development could stabilize electricity

rates, especially in an area where most of the power comes 

from fossil fuels. This would provide a long-term advantage 

for economic development and create sustained job growth. 

In the beginning of the natural gas boom, I met with the New 

England Governors on the subject of electricity generation. 

I remember voicing concerns about going from no natural gas 

to being over-dependent. It’s both a security and a price risk. 

I was recently in Singapore, which gets all of its drinking water

from Malaysia via a pipeline. Some years ago, they recognized

that this wasn’t a good idea and invested in desalination 

and reverse-osmosis plants, and now they’re virtually waterindependent. We need to do the same and have alternative 

options to a costly and volatile fuel source. 

Q. We’ve seen that any electricity generation project will 

have some undesirable impacts. How do you view wind 

power’s impacts within a larger context?

A. The only real impact I have discerned is visual impact. 

When I visited the Mars Hill site, they experienced narrowly

defined issues with noise. But you can avoid noise issues by

siting a project a sufficient distance away from houses and the 

residents. At Mars Hill, for example, there are a few houses

that are particularly close and downwind that appear to have 

sound issues, but in general, noise impacts from wind generation can be managed. There can be noise problems if you’re 

too close, but they drop off rapidly as the distance increases; 

it’s all about the setbacks. Studies regarding bird impacts

conducted around the country show that wind power has a 

modest effect on birds and that their impact on birds is less 

serious than we initially thought. So a tolerance for changes

in people’s views is the primary issue with wind. I have met 

an amazing number of people who have traveled, seen lots of

windmills, and think they are beautiful. It is clearly a subjective 

judgment. 

If visual impacts are the worst thing we have to deal with in 

order to make a dent in climate change and fossil-fuel dependency, we need to realize that it could be a lot worse. I used to

work on biomass development, but with biomass, you are still 

burning something. You need a tall smokestack. Your trucks

transporting your fuel are emitting CO2. Wind has a very short 

list of negatives compared to other alternatives. 

Q. What inspired you to go into wind development after 

leaving office?

A. My friend Rob Gardiner and I had been talking about 

going into wind development for more than a year. There are 

three main reasons. First of all, it is an interesting business 

opportunity that will hopefully be profitable. I enjoy business, 

and energy is a business that I know. Second, this endeavor

has important long-term benefits for Maine in stabilizing

electricity prices and decreasing the state’s dependence on 

volatile fossil fuel supplies and prices. Last, I like the idea 

of trying to DO something about climate change. This is

an opportunity to try to solve, rather than just talk about 

solving, problems. My feeling about Maine is that we have to 

take advantage of the assets that we have. There are a lot of 

things we don’t have, but we do have wind, we have the Gulf 

of Maine, water supply, and forests. We need to play with the 

hand we were dealt, work with the assets that we have, and 

Maine has the most wind potential in New England.
New England Wind Forum — January 2010 17

WIND AND HYDROPOWER TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM

Q. How has the transition from governor to wind developer 

gone so far? How does being ex-governor help or hinder 

your efforts?

A. I was already 4 years out of office before starting

Independence Wind, and I never dreamed of having anything 

to do with wind during my time as governor. The precipitating 

factor was when I went to Sugarloaf in the summer of 2006 to

testify in favor of the Redington/Black Nubble project. I went

as a citizen and was frustrated. Here was an opportunity to

do something about climate change, but the big picture wasn’t 

getting across. After that, I spoke with Rob Gardiner and said, 

“Maybe there’s something we can do.” We started surveying 

sites and found a very good one. I tried to bear in mind the 

environmental objections at Redington and other sites and preselected sites that would hopefully minimize such problems.

We’ve tried to be sensitive and have met with selectmen, towns, 

and residents. I’m not sure if that will help or hinder the 

process, but my guess is that it’s a curiosity to have the former 

governor talking about local issues. Hopefully some people

in the town will think that I was a good governor and be 

supportive, but others might think the opposite. 

Q. What do you hope to accomplish as a wind developer?

A. I would like to be associated with the development of 

substantial projects in Maine and make a dent in Maine’s 

energy demand and climate impact. The bottom line is that we 

need to DO something about climate change instead of just

talking about it. The things we need to do will require change, 

and change is always difficult. We need to get used to seeing 

windmills where we used to see ridgelines, we need to drive less 

and conserve more. We can’t deal with a global issue by doing 

the same as we’ve always done. 

Q. How did you choose the name Independence Wind? Do 

you see wind as a key to Maine’s energy independence, 

or do you see Maine as a wind exporter?

A. The name was Rob’s idea, and it has a nice connotation 

of independence from fossil fuels. It is possible that Maine 

could be a wind exporter. In the energy business, electrons 

will go where they will. We will see Maine exporting on windy 

days and importing on a hot summer day. If Maine develops 

offshore wind in a major way 15 years in the future, then it

could be a major source for all of New England because of 

the enormous magnitude of potential. 

Q. What do you see as your biggest risks and challenges to 

Independence Wind’s success?

A. The two biggest risks are the current low natural gas prices 

and the permitting process. Gas prices—which determine 

marginal electricity prices in New England—are one-third of 

what they were just 16 months ago and make it very difficult 

for any capital-intensive source like wind or hydro to compete 

in the short run. In the longer run—anything over 5 years—

I’m still confident that wind can and will be an important part 

of the regional energy mix. The time will come—sooner rather 

than later in my view—when we’ll be very happy that we have 

zero-fuel-cost sources available. On the permitting side, local

opponents are getting more organized and aggressive and are

driving up the cost and time involved in getting final permits. 

The problem, of course, is that the benefits of wind power 

are broadly distributed while the impacts are local. But the

majority of the residents in the town hosting our first project 

has voted twice in our favor, so we’ve made some progress in 

demonstrating local as well as statewide benefits.

Small Wind Corner

While large-scale wind generation dominates the recent 

news, a considerable amount of activity is underway at the 

other end of the scale. In all New England states, small-scale 

wind turbines are supported by incentives including net 

metering (recent changes discussed earlier in this newsletter) 

and targeted incentive programs offered by the Connecticut 

Clean Energy Fund, Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust 

(through its recently launched Commonwealth Wind: Micro 

Wind Initiative), the New Hampshire PUC’s Sustainable

Energy Division (through its recently adopted Residential 

Renewable Energy Generation Incentive Program), Vermont

Department of Public Service’s Clean Energy Development

Fund (as well as the pending Feed-in Tariff; see article above), 

Efficiency Maine’s Solar and Wind Rebate Program, and

the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation’s 

Renewable Energy Fund programs.

In 2008, Boston’s Logan International Airport began installing 

its first in a series of 20 wind turbines on the roof of its 

offices. Each turbine is 10 feet tall and, according to manufacturer Aerovironment, in aggregate are expected to generate 

60,000 kWh per year. Such production levels, if realized, would

represent a dramatic increase from the historic production of 

other similarly sized machines. Massachusetts Port Authority,

the organization that operates the airport, may consider

installing more turbines around the airport depending on 

the performance of the current installation. 

In the summer of 2009, less than a year after installing a 

50-kW wind turbine on top of a hill at the Kittery (Maine)

Waste Transfer Station, town officials have decided to remove

the installation due to poor performance. Real-time data 

collected over an 8-month period showed production to be

only 15% of original estimates. Ground clutter causing wind

turbulence is credited for the poor performance. The town aims 

to sell the turbine back to the manufacturer, Entegrity Wind 

Systems. The manufacturer has agreed to refund the town the

entire cost of the project and plans to relocate the turbine and 

tower to a Midwest location sometime in early 2010. 

Also in the summer of 2009, the Boston Museum of Science

announced that it is building a wind turbine laboratory on its 

roof. The lab will be the first of its kind to be constructed on 

a museum roof in the nation. The lab, propelled by the green 

initiative at the museum, will demonstrate that small wind 
18 New England Wind Forum — January 2010

WIND AND HYDROPOWER TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM

turbines can be installed on small commercial and residential 

roofs. Two types of turbines have already been installed – a 

2.4-kW “downwind” Southwest Windpower Skystream and 

a 1.2-kW vertical-axis Mariah Windpower Windspire. Three 

additional turbine systems are planned: a 1.5-kW “upwind”

Cascade Energy Swift, a 6-kW “downwind” Proven 6 turbine,

and a bank of five AeroVironment AVX1000 turbines with a 

collective 5 kW of nameplate generating capacity. The turbines

range between 7 and 40 feet tall. Rotor diameters range

between 5 and 18 feet. The wind lab is expected to provide

valuable data on rooftop wind turbine productivity. The 

project is a joint initiative with the Massachusetts Renewable 

Energy Trust.

In 2008, the NH State legislature passed HB310, which created

a framework for municipalities to regulate small wind energy 

systems. It also made changes to the definition of “accessory use,” stating that renewable energy systems are accessory 

uses and shall be encouraged so long as they are in the public 

interest. Nearly two dozen towns have since adopted regulations regulating small wind energy systems. The NH Office of

Energy and Planning released a Small Wind Energy System

Technical Bulletin, including a model ordinance, in Fall 2008.

Cool Links

Go to the NEWF Web site to see a map (http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/ne_projects.asp) of all wind energy projects 

in New England. With our recently re-established funding, this 

map is updated at least twice per year.

Transporting and installing the sizable tower, blade, and

nacelle components of commercial-scale wind turbines can be 

quite an undertaking. Check out:

•	 Several news and video clips on the Fox Island Wind Project

construction at Vinalhaven, Maine can be found at the 

project’s Web site (http://www.foxislandswind.com/) and the 

construction company’s Web site (http://www.cianbro.com/

News/tabid/101/EntryID/242/Default.aspx).

•	 See video highlights (http://insidemedford.com/2009/01/29/

mcglynn-school-wind-turbine-unveiled/) from the dedication ceremony for the Town of Medford, Massachusetts’ 

new Northwind 100.

•	 This cool link provides pictures and other project-related

documentation (http://www.energymaine.com/brwind/

index.html) for the Beaver Ridge Wind Project in Freedom,

Maine.

•	 See construction photos (http://www.portsmouthrienergy.

com/) of the United States’ first AAER 1.5-MW wind

turbine at the Portsmouth, Rhode Island high school.

•	 See photos (http://www.mmr.org/wind%20trubine/

TurbineBladesWebsite/index.htm) of wind turbine components being delivered to the Massachusetts Military 

Reservation on Cape Cod for the MMR’s first wind turbine. 

Events

The New England Wind Forum Web site maintains an up-todate calendar of wind-related events, from conferences and 

workshops to siting hearings, in all six New England states. 

Check the calendar frequently for the latest opportunities to 

attend industry and community forums and be involved in 

the wind energy dialogue at www.windpoweringamerica.gov/

ne_calendar.asp.

The Massachusetts Wind Working Group (http://www.ceere.

org/rerl/mwwg.html), the region’s most active wind working 

group to date, meets several times per year, most recently 

hosting meetings with speakers discussing the proposed 

Massachusetts Wind Energy Siting Act, a Wind Energy in New

England status update, and new net metering regulations and 

tariffs. Meanwhile, Connecticut’s new Wind Working Group 

had its inaugural meeting at the Yale School of Forestry and

Environmental Studies in June 2008. The recently formed

Maine Wind Working Group hosted a full-day conference 

on October 6, 2009. Information is available at: http://www.

mainewindenergyconference.com/. More information on the 

state wind working groups’ activities and meetings can be 

found on the NEWF Web site state pages, as well as on the 

event calendar.
New England Wind Forum — January 2010 19

WIND AND HYDROPOWER TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM

EERE Information Center

1-877-EERE-INF (1-877-337-3463)

www.eere.energy.gov/informationcenter

Printed with a renewable-source ink on paper containing at 

least 50% wastepaper, including 10% post consumer waste.

Prepared by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

NREL is operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC

DOE/GO-102010-2945 • January 2010

www.windpoweringamerica.gov

U.S. Department of Energy

New England Wind Forum — The Newsletter 

Produced by Sustainable Energy Advantage, LLC under contract to the Wind Powering America Program of the National

Renewable Energy Laboratory. 

Editor: Robert C. Grace 

Authors: Robert C. Grace and Jason S. Gifford

Subscribe at www.windpoweringamerica.gov/ne_ signup.asp

Send news ideas, events, notices, and updates to newf@seadvantage.com

Thanks to our many external reviewers for excellent comments and contributions.

Energy Efficiency & 

Renewable Energy