Three Businesses Wait on Wind Turbine Permits
By Robert Gold, The Patriot-News, Harrisburg, Pa.
Jan. 16–Three Barnstable businesses may soon find out whether they can set up wind turbines.
If approved, the companies could all become at least partially wind-powered this year. Public hearings for all three projects have closed, paving the way for planning board decisions. John Peck, from Peck’s Boats in Marstons Mills wants to install a three-blade, 120-foot-high wind turbine, which could produce all of his company’s electricity. The 20 kilowatt project would be located on the company’s property.
Peck expects at least 40 percent of the project will be funded with grants from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC). Hoping to get final approval within a month, Peck said he’d like to set up the turbine by this spring.
Hyannis Country Gardens, which is getting $225,000 for its project from the MTC, wants to install a three-blade turbine, reaching up to about 155-feet high, including a 120-foot-high blade The owners recently decided to move the project about 150 feet north, toward the back of the business’ property.
That should reduce “shadow flicker,” their lawyer John Kenney has said of shadows cast by rotating blades.
At a public hearing Monday, supporters of the project praised it as a step toward cleaner energy on the Cape, while some expressed concern about the size of the turbines.
Hyannis Country Gardens, which hopes to use the turbine for more than 90 percent of its electricity, said the taller turbine will be much quieter than several smaller turbines. Convenience store magnate Christy Mihos wants to install three turbines on the roof of the gas island at Christy’s Market on Iyannough Road in Hyannis. Mihos already installed three turbines at a Christy’s in West Yarmouth last November. He has plans to eventually do the same at 13 current or future stores on the Cape.
It costs about $45,000 to purchase and install each set of turbines, he said. But the project would cover about 30 percent of each store’s electricity bill.
Mihos said he hasn’t received any complaints about the turbines at the West Yarmouth location.
“The sound is less than someone whispering,” he said. If Mihos gets town approval, expect to see the turbines the following day.
“We are ready to go,” he said.
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