1. Wind Power Suitability for Worcester, MA
Chris Kalisz, Calixte Monast, Mike Santoro, Ben Trow
1/2/2019

2. The Opportunity Political support Grid restructuring
Cities for Climate Protection (CCP)
State regulations
Mayor of Worcester
Grid restructuring
Continued technological development
Societal acceptance
Availability of information
Wind power suitability report
1/2/2019

3. The Goals
To develop a list of criteria to assess wind power suitability
To develop this list into a comprehensive report that can be used as a resource
To apply these criteria to a specific location to determine their efficacy
1/2/2019

4. The Vision What can Worcester do? Land Political leadership
Regulations
Sources of information
1/2/2019

5. Suitability Criteria What are suitability criteria?
What are they used for?
Why are they important?
Functionality
Financial security
Public acceptance
1/2/2019

6. Criteria: Physical Characteristics
Wind Speed
“Cut in” velocity
Power output
Wind Consistency
Varying speeds and directions
Turbine damage
Elevation
High wind velocity
Little turbulence
Wind speed and consistency
1/2/2019

7. Criteria: Technical Considerations
Electrical grid
Economics
Construction
intrusive
Feasibility
1/2/2019

8. Criteria: Regulations
Federal
State
Worcester
Wireless Tower Planning Process
1/2/2019

9. Regulations: Federal Migratory Bird Treaty
Audubon Society
Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) & Incidental Take Permit
Endangered species’ habitats
Storm Water Notice of Intent
Waste water (construction)
FAA
Over 200 feet
1/2/2019

10. Regulations: State Environmental Notification Form
25 acres
Noise Control Policy
Massachusetts Aeronautics Commissions
Over 200 feet
NEPOOL Interconnection System Impact Study & Facility Study
Electrical grid integration
1/2/2019

11. Regulations: Worcester
Building Permit
Planning Board
Zoning Board
Conservation
Wetland Protection Ordinance
Conservation Commission
1/2/2019

12. Current Planning Process for a Personal Wireless Service Facility
Name, address, telephone for addresses [applicants, co-applicants, and agents] Original signatures of all applicants
Current Planning Process for a Personal Wireless Service Facility
General Filing Requirements
Specific Location:
*Tax Map and parcel number of property
*Zoning Map with parcel identified
*Line Map with parcel drawn to scale
[shows all properties within 30 ft.]
*City-Wide Map including existing towers
*Proposed Map of current and future personal towers
Location Filing Requirements
Vicinity Plan with one-inch-equals-forty-feet
[Ordinance 7440, Siting Filing Requirements]
Sight lines and photographs
[before and proposed photos of site taken 300 ft. away]
Siting elevations
[showing total elevation dimensions]
Siting Filing Requirements
Zoning Board of Appeals
Special Permit Granting Authority [SPGA]
Pre-Application Conference [Optional]
Equipment brochures
Materials of construction
Proposed colors
Dimensions of tower: height, width, breadth
Photographic superimpositions
Landscape Plan
Height simulation using balloon or crane
Lighting report
Design Filing Requirements
Noise Filing Requirements
Ambient measurements of existing noise
Proposed noise measurement from tower
Ambient measurements of existing RFR
Maximum estimate of proposed RFR
Certification of meeting FCC Guidelines
Radiofrequency Radiation (RFR) Filing Requirements
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
Environmental Assessment submission for FCC and city
List all hazardous materials that would be used at site
Massachusetts Department of Public Health regulation 105 CMR
SPGA can waive any further filing requirements if it finds unnecessary
Federal Environmental Filing Requirements
1/2/2019

13. Criteria: Economics and Financing
Economics in perspective
Federal
Grants
Tax Incentives
Loans
State
Regulatory restrictions
Worcester
1/2/2019

14. Economics In Perspective
Wind Farm Capital Cost Breakdown
Installation 1%
Insurance
Grid Connection 6%
Project Management
Legal/Development
Costs 3%
Bank Fees
Interest During
Construction 2%
Electrical
Infrastructure 8%
Civil Works
13%
Wind Turbines
64%
Wind Energy Explained. Pg. 427
1/2/2019

15. Financing: Federal Grants Tax Incentives Loans
National Industrial Competitiveness through Energy, Environment, and Economics (NICE3)
Up to 50% of project cost
Environmental Finance Program (EFP)
Community outreach
Tax Incentives
Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit (PTC)
1.5 cent tax credit per kWh
Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS)
Depreciation deductions (for 3 to 31.5 years)
Loans
U.S. Small Business Association (SBA)
Not more than $750,000 or 75% of the project
Up to $100,000 cannot exceed 80% of the project
1/2/2019

16. Financing: State Grants Tax Incentives Regulatory Restrictions
Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust Fund
Approximately $20 million per year
MTC’s Commercial, Industrial, & Institutional Initiative (CI3)
$6 million over the course of the next 3 years
Up to $40,000, paying at least 20% or $5,000, whichever is less
Tax Incentives
State Individual Income Tax Credit
15% of the net expenditure or $1000, whichever is less
State Sales Tax Exemption
Regulatory Restrictions
Generation Performance Standards (GPS)
Limits air pollution per kWh
Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS)
Energy distributors must provide a minimum percentage of renewable energy sources
Renewable Energy Research Laboratory (RERL)
Provide free consultation
1/2/2019

17. Financing: Worcester Local Property Tax Exemption Proposed legislation
Up to 20 years
Proposed legislation
20% power from renewable sources by 2010
1/2/2019

18. Criteria: Societal Concerns
Noise
Aesthetics
Ownership
Public vs. private
Environmental Concerns
Transportation Considerations
1/2/2019

19. Societal Concerns: Noise
How is it produced?
Generator
Blades
Common public concern
50 decibel limit at property boundary
Solutions
Insulation
Placement
Education
Technology
1/2/2019

20. 1/2/2019
Wind Farm Mtg 22Jan03, Princeton Wind Farm Powerpoint

21. Societal Concerns: Aesthetics
Why is this a common concern?
Elevation for “clean” air
Intrusive
“Flicker”
1/2/2019

22. Societal Concerns: Ownership
Public Land
Pros
Inherent local government support
Economics
Availability
Cons
Public support required
Private Land
Pros
Total control of project
Cons
More expensive
Availability
1/2/2019

23. Societal Concerns: Environmental Concerns
Moral obligation to local wildlife
Migratory paths
Wetland preservation
Endangered Species
Lengthy regulatory process
Notes of intent
Special permits
Public reaction
More harm than good
1/2/2019

24. Societal Concerns: Transportation Considerations
Site access
New roads
Damage to back roads
Congestion
Construction phase
Urban emphasis
1/2/2019

25. Site Comparisons Princeton, Massachusetts Altamont Pass, California
Public vs. private ownership
Altamont Pass, California
Environmental concerns
Cape Wind
Public concerns
Top of Iowa
Financing
Cornwall, England
Public support
Hull, Massachusetts
Physical characteristics
Searsburg, Vermont
Aesthetics
1/2/2019

26. Altamont Pass Wind Farm
Princeton Wind Farm
Cape Wind Project
Altamont Pass Wind Farm
Top of Iowa Wind Farm
1/2/2019

27. 1/2/2019 Wind turbines at Cornwall, England
Searsburg, Vermont Wind Farm
Wind turbine at Hull, Massachusetts
1/2/2019

28. Overview Worcester is in a position to support wind energy
Political opportunity
Available information
Wind power suitability report
Questions or comments
1/2/2019