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December 20, 2005
MA: Chain Gang Sherriff Goes Green
12/20/2005
Prison goes green
Gregg M. Miliote , Herald News Staff Reporter
DARTMOUTH -- Bristol County Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson is seeking to cut electricity costs at the Bristol County House of Correction and help the environment by entering into a Power Purchase Agreement to buy three wind turbines.
Hodgson recently entered into the agreement with McKenzie Bay International’s WindStor Power Co.
Upon local, state and federal approval, the county will purchase electricity generated by WindStor at a fixed rate for the next 15 years.
Company officials say the environmentally friendly renewable energy source will provide massive savings to county taxpayers who foot the bill for the sprawling facility’s electricity.
WindStor, according to Hodgson, will build, operate and maintain the wind turbines at no expense to the county.
Hodgson estimated the switch to wind-powered electricity at the count jail will save the county at least $100,000 per year while also helping to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.
The current cost of energy at the facility is about $300,000 per year, meaning the installation of wind turbines could reduce costs by 33 percent annually.
The veteran sheriff called the wind turbines a "perfect solution," adding that he is gratified to know he will be the first sheriff in the Bay State to use wind generation technology.
"The biggest advantage is there is no upfront cost to the taxpayer," Hodgson said. "But this is also clean energy. So both taxpayers and the environment win."
Hodgson also said he hopes his use of alternative energy will start a trend in Massachusetts for prisons and other large facilities like schools.
If the project receives all necessary approvals, Hodgson said, the turbines should be up and running by May or June 2006.
The turbines, Hodgson said, make very little noise and are shaped like giant 162-foot whisks.
They will be placed in an area of open space on a hill adjacent to the prison.
Officials with WindStor Power Co. said they are excited to prove the worthiness of their product.
"We are very pleased that our first Massachusetts agreement is an opportunity to showcase the benefits of buying WindStor-generated electricity to urban commercial, industrial and governmental ratepayers," said McKenzie Bay President Gary L. Westerholm. "WindStor was designed for operation in very harsh environments, easily exceeding all requirements for safe operations in urban environments."
©The Herald News 2005
Posted by lois at December 20, 2005 09:19 AM