Fall 2013
No. 38
Lynn – Almost There!
Sections of the turbine’s tower are transported from Middleboro to Lynn.
Members visit the digester at Jordan Dairy Farm. See massenergy.org/cowpower for more pictures and videos!
of hardware — a 600 kW turbine! After a hiccup
BREAKING MOOS:
Jordan Farm almost doubles its output!
involving the contractor originally in charge of
The anaerobic digester at the Jordan Dairy Farm in Rutland, MA is one of our
overseeing the installation, the project is back
favorite projects. Not only does it keep the potent greenhouse gas methane out
on track.
The foundation is ready and the
of the atmosphere, it also produces electricity and fertilizer at the same time—
turbine’s tower, which was manufactured in
all while helping maintain a local, family-owned dairy farm! Given all these
the Commonwealth, recently joined the other
benefits, you can imagine that we’re thrilled to announce that Jordan Dairy
components on site. The 254-foot-tall turbine should
Farm will be replacing its current 300 kW generator with a 500 kW generator!
be up and running before the end of October.
Thanks to supplemental feedstock from food scraps and a digester that has
The folks over at the Lynn Water and Sewer
Commission are eagerly anticipating the imminent
completion of the Commission’s newest piece
performed above expectations, the project is currently producing more fuel
than the generator can use. Around the end of the year, the generator will be
replaced, increasing green power production by sixty percent!
We’re hoping to see more of these
While some of these projects may be
projects in the future, too. The
similar to Jordan Dairy Farm’s, other
company
helped
develop
types of projects are also possible.
AGreen
Energy,
As an example, the Massachusetts
LLC, is currently working on two
Water Resources Authority is looking
other digesters on other farms in
at processing food scraps in its large
Massachusetts. One is expected
digesters on Deer Island. While on a
to be finished around the end of
very different scale, the process would
this year and the next sometime
be similar to Jordan’s generating
in late 2014. A new Massachusetts
useful energy from food scraps. It’s
state law, which requires that food
an interesting way to use existing
scraps from larger businesses and
equipment to help solve a problem.
institutions be kept out of landfills,
By making energy from material that
is also likely to drive even more
would have ended up in a landfill,
digester projects.
these projects are great examples of
this
Simulation of the Lynn turbine. Photo Credit: EES Group Inc.
Most would agree that the turbine, sited on a
wastewater treatment plant, only improves the
aesthetics of the area. Plus, renewable energy is a
great solution for the plant due to its large electricity
consumption. It will reduce electricity costs for the
Commission and help protect it from future cost
increases. This will mean both savings and more
stability. And Mass Energy members benefit by
receiving all of the environmental benefits. Taken
together, it’s a renewable energy slam dunk. We
can’t wait to see it up and running!
that
project,
innovative Yankee thrift!
To learn more about cow power, visit massenergy.org/cowpower!
LOOKING
GREEN
WHEELS
FOR
Check out greenercars.org, a free website that will
The ACEEE calculates a Green Score based on specifications reported by
help you select the most planet-friendly vehicle
auto manufacturers as well as official emissions and fuel-economy tests for
to meet your transportation needs. Provided by
each car, minivan, pickup, and SUV on the market. The Green Score falls
the American Council for an Energy-Efficient
on a scale of zero to 100. The higher the score, the lower the environmental
Economy (ACEEE), this resource lists:
impact of the vehicle. The easiest way to buy green is to select a vehicle
ƒ The “Greenest Vehicles of 2013” — the vehicles
from the “Best of 2013” list.
The site also provides green driving tips, pertinent news and documents, and
with the highest Green Scores
ƒ The “Best of 2013”— the greenest models in each
links to other relevant websites. If you’re looking for even more information,
you can buy a subscription to ACEEE’s Green Book®Online (greenercars.
vehicle class
ƒ The “Meanest Vehicles for the Environment in
2013” — the 12 cars and trucks with the worst
org), which gives you access to their database of every vehicle they scored
for the past 14 years!
Green Scores
Highlights of Summer Turbine Events
a
b
WE HOST EVENTS YEAR ROUND! TO SEE WHAT’S
COMING UP, VISIT MASSENERGY.ORG/EVENTS.
Join us for the FREE Medford
Harvest Your Energy Festival!
Saturday, October 26th, 11am-2pm, McGlynn Middle School, Medford MA
Music, games, food, large electronics recycling, wind turbine tours, & more!
More info: medford.org/pages/medfordma_energy/harvestyourenergy
Mass Energy had a great time this summer hosting
events at some of the turbines in our (your) portfolio.
a. On July 17, we visited IBEW Local 103’s 100-kilowatt wind turbine in
c
d
Dorchester, MA. Our event was co-sponsored by the Environmental
League of Massachusetts.
b. On July 27, about 85 people toured the beautiful Berkshire East Ski Resort
in Charlemont, MA and saw its 900-kilowatt wind turbine up close. Many
of our attendees also enjoyed a day of zip-lining!
c. We hosted about 80 visitors at Ipswich’s two 2-megawatt wind turbines
on August 3.
d. On September 28, we hosted an event in Gloucester along with Equity
Industrial Properties, Inc., the owner of the two turbines. Together at 4
megawatts, they make for our largest project.
Currents is printed on recycled paper with soy inks.
2
Featured Green Business
LAKSHMI’S GARDEN
Nestled in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts is
the Ayurvedic health center and New England
GreenStartSM
member
Lakshmi’s
Garden.
“Ayurveda means the science of life,” explains
owner Terrel Broussard. Lakshmi’s Garden offers a
variety of body work sessions, massage services,
and yoga instruction in the health center and
in the comfort of their clients’ homes. Terrel and
Lakshmi’s Garden is an Ayurvedic health center
and green business in West Stockbridge.
Lakshmi’s Garden is
offering a 10% discount
to Mass Energy members!
lakshmisgarden.com
his partner Kim Larson have over 15 years of
experience as therapists. They are dedicated to
improving the health of individuals and the Earth.
“ We follow a few simple practices,
including energy conservation, waterusage awareness, reusing, reducing,
composting and recycling whenever
possible, composting food waste, and
using renewable resources,” explains Terrel.
Terrel and his family are proud owners of a green
business and home!
Why I buy green power
It’s time to change…Going green means
that I can feel comfortable knowing
that the energy sources I’m using will
do less harm to the planet and the
people who live on it…I would
definitely recommend Mass Energy’s
New England GreenStart program.
TERREL BROUSSARD, WEST STOCKBRIDGE
New England Wind & New England GreenStart Disclosure Label
fall 2013
Wind 2%
Biomass 3%
Biomass
3%
Large
Hydro 1%
Oil 7%
Coal
9%
Nuclear
29%
Imported
Power 10%
Municipal
Trash 3%
Natural Gas
36%
Solar
6%
100%
Massachusetts
Wind
Wind
16%
Small Hydro
75%
The full disclosure label, including New England GreenStart 50%, can be found at: www.massenergy.org/renewable-energy
No. 38
3
PROPERTY VALUES
Not Affected
by WIND
TURBINES
It’s good news for homeowners living near wind turbines!
According to a recent study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
(LBNL), wind turbines do not significantly decrease home values.
The study, which looked at more than 50,000 homes near 67 wind facilities in
27 counties across 9 states, found no statistical evidence that wind turbines
negatively affected property values. It is the most comprehensive study of
its kind to date, with its large sample size, careful control for other potential
impacts, and inclusion of the period between a project’s announcement
and its actual construction.
For those of us who embrace wind power as the most affordable zeroemissions source of energy, the study provides one more reason to feel good
about wind. The many positive attributes of wind power may explain why it’s
one of the fastest growing energy sources in the country.
In 2012, the U.S. installed 13 gigawatts of wind power. A third of that wind
power came from turbines installed by homeowners, businesses, and farms
(not worried by the impact on their property values) to meet their own
energy needs. More important, the amount of wind power installed last
year exceeded the amount of new coal-fired and gas-fired energy sources
installed. Now that’s good news for all of us!
The study can be found at: http://newscenter.lbl.gov/category/news-releases
Hull 1 turbine located in a residential neighborhood. Photo Credit: Bob Goober.
4
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